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GENERAL  SCOTT. 


GENERAL    SCOTT 

AND 

HIS    STAFF: 


COMPRISING 

MEMOIRS  OF  GENERALS 

SCOTT,  TWIGGS,   SMITH,  QUITMAN,  SHIELDS, 
PILLOW,  LANE,  CADWALADER,  PAT 
TERSON  AND  PIERCE ; 

COLONELS  GUILDS,  RILEY,  HARNEY,  AND  BUTLER, 

AND 

OTHER  DISTINGUISHED  OFFICERS  ATTACHED  TO  GENERAL  SCOTT'S  ARMY; 

TOGETHER    WITH 

NOTICES  OF  GENERAL  KEARNY,  COLONEL  DONIPHAN,  COLONEL 

FREMONT,  AND  OTHER  OFFICERS  DISTINGUISHED  IN  THE 

CONQUEST  OF  CALIFORNIA  AND  NEW  MEXICO... 

INTERSPERSED    WITH 

NUMEROUS  ANECDOTES  OF  THE  MEXICAN  WAR, 

AND 

PERSONAL  ADVENTURES  OF  THE  OFFICERS. 

COMPILED   FROM    PUBLIC    DOCUMENTS    AND    PRIVATE    CORRESPONDENCE, 

WITH 

ACCURATE  PORTRAITS,  AND  OTHER  BEAUTIFUL  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

PHILADELPHIA: 
GRIGG,    ELLIOT    &    CO. 

No.  14  NORTH  FOURTH  STREET. 

1848. 


403 
'.Q-32, 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1848,  by 

GRIGG;  ELLIOT  &  co. 

in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


STEREOTYPED     BY    J.    FAGAX. 
PRINTED     BYT.     K.     AND     T.     G.     CO  I,  I- INS. 

(2) 


Jancr of  t 


^ 


PREFACE. 


THE  present  war  with  Mexico  has  developed,  in 

^  a  very  extraordinary  manner,  the  military  resources 
of  this  country.  It  has  made  the  world  acquainted 

^  with  many  facts  and  principles  which  are  worthy  of 
especial  attention  to  every  one  who  feels  an  interest 
in  our  national  history,  and  a  desire  that  the  national 
honour  shall  always  be  maintained.  It  has  demon 
strated  that  a  people  devoted  to  the  arts  of  peace, 
and  possessing  free  political  institutions,  can  easily 
vanquish  a  military  people,  governed  by  military 

.,,  despots.  It  has  shown  that  fresh  volunteers,  under 
the  command  of  intelligent  and  able  officers,  can 
take  fortified  cities  and  castles,  garrisoned  by  double 
the  number  of  the  assailants;  and  gain  victories,  in 

L\  pitched  battles,  over  disciplined  armies  five  times  as 
numerous  as  themselves.  These  are  interesting  facts; 
and  particularly  interesting  to  Americans,  as  they 
evidently  involve  the  principle,  that  political  freedom 
is  the  chief  element  of  military  success. 

(iii) 


IV  PREFACE. 

All  this  has  been  accomplished  by  a  small  army, 
with  a  staff  of  officers  never  surpassed  in  valour 
and  ability.  To  afford  the  public  sketches  of  the 
personal  history  of  these  officers,  and  to  give  details 
of  their  service  in  this  war,  is  the  purpose  of  the 
present  work.  It  is  compiled  from  authentic  ma 
terials,  consisting  of  public  documents  and  private 
correspondence  and  memoirs,  derived  in  many  in 
stances  from  family  connections  of  the  officers. 
The  author  has  endeavoured  to  give  in  every  in 
stance  the  truth  without  respect  to  persons,  and  he 
hopes  that  in  this  he  has  been  as  successful  as  the 
nature  of  the  undertaking  would  permit 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  1,  1848. 


CONTENTS. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT,  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF  OF  THE  AME 
RICAN  ARMY Page    11 

MAJOR-GENERAL  PILLOW 78 

MAJOR-GENERAL  QUITMAN 85 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  TWIGGS 106 

GENERAL  SMITH 117 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  SHIELDS 125 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  LANE 129 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  CADWALADER 136 

BRIGADIERrGENERAL  PIERCE 140 

MAJOR-GENERAL  PATTERSON 145 

COLONEL  HARNEY 149 

COLONEL  CHILDS 155 

GENERAL  GUSHING 159 

COLONEL  RILEY 160 

COLONEL  BUTLER 161 

MAJOR  VINTON 164 

CAPTAIN  THORNTON '. 171 

GENERAL  KEARNY 174 

COLONEL  DONIPHAN 181 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  FREMONT 204 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JONES 215 

LIEUTENANT  CHRISTOPHER  CARSON..  ...  219 


(5) 


» 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT, 

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF  OF  THE  AMERICAN  ARMY. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  WINFIELD  SCOTT  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  born 
near  Petersburg,  June  13th,  1786.  The  accounts  of  his  early  life 
are  few  and  meagre.  He  passed  through  the  Richmond  High- 
School,  and  afterwards  studied  Jaw  at  William  and  Mary  College. 
His  military  career  began  in  1807,  on  .the  reception  of  news  con 
cerning  the  Chesapeake,  when  he  became  a  volunteer  member  of 
the  Petersburg  troop  of  horse.  On  the  3d  of  May,  1808,  he  was 
commissioned  as  captain  of  light  artillery,  and  has  remained  in  the 
army  ever  since.  When  the  war  of  1812  commenced,  he  had  al 
ready  advanced  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel. 

At  the  battle  of  Glueenstown  Heights,  Scott  gave  assurance  of  his 
future  military  usefulness.  After  behaving  in  the  most  gallant 
manner,  his  command  of  three  hundred  men  became  separated  from 
the  main  body,  and  were  attacked  by  thirteen  hundred  British  and 
Indians.  He  defended  himself  for  a  long  while,  but  was  at  length 
taken  prisoner,  and  carried  with  his  troops  to  Quebec.  While 
here,  he  challenged  the  respect  of  the  British  officers,  by  his  inde 
pendent  and  soldier-like  bearing.  His  rescue  of  the  Irish  prisoners 
is  well  known  ;  and  many  other  anecdotes  are  related  of  him  during 
this  confinement.  In  a  little  while  he  was  exchanged  and  sent  to 
Boston. 

In  the  following  year,  Scott  was  engaged  in  a  still  more  glorious 
affair  at  Fort  Grey.  In  the  passage  of  the  river,  before  taking  this 
place,  he  led  the  van  and  rushed  up  the  steep  Canadian  bank  amid 
a  shower  of  balls,  and  drove  the  British  into  the  woods.  At  the 
fort,  he  tore  down  the  flag  with  his  own  hands,  and  afterward  pui  • 
sued  the  enemy  until  evening. 

(11) 


12  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

The  summer  passed  without  any  attack  from  the  British,  and, 
burning  for  active  operations,  Scott  was  permitted  by  General  Wilk 
inson  to  resign  the  command  of  Fort  George,  which  he  then  held, 
to  General  McClure,  and  join  the  main  army  at  Sackett's  Harbour ; 
marching  to  the  mouth  of  the  Genesee  river,  where  the  commander- 
in-chief  promised  that  transports  should  meet  him.  In  this,  how 
ever,  Scott  was  disappointed,  and  he  was  compelled  to  advance  over 
roads  almost  impassable  along  the  whole  distance  from  Niagara  to 
the  St.  Lawrence.  Leaving  his  column  near  Utica,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Major  Hindman,  Scott  hastened  forward  himself,  reached 
the  St.  Lawrence  at  Ogdensburg  on  the  6th  November,  in  time  to 
take  part  in  the  descent,  and, was  appointed  to  command  the  ad 
vance  guard ;  and  owing  to  his  being  in  advance,  had  no  part  in  the 
indecisive  battle  of  Chrystler's  Field,  or  the  events  which  took 
place  in  the  rear.  He  did,  however,  encounter  and  overcome  se 
vere  resistance  at  the  Hoophole  creek,  near  Cornwall,  where  he 
routed  a  nearly  equal  British  force  under  Colonel  Dennis — making 
many  prisoners,  and  pursuing  the  fugitives  till  night ;  and  also  at 
Fort  Matilda,  erected  to  guard  the  narrowest  part  of  the  river.  He 
took  the  fort,  its  commander,  and  many  of  his  men.  But  with  vic 
tory  within  his  grasp  —  for  there  was  no  force  between  Scott  and 
Montreal  which  could  have  arrested  his  march  six  hours,  and  no 
garrison  in  Montreal  that  could  have  obstructed  his  entry  —  he,  as 
well  as  the  nation,  was  doomed  to  disappointment,  by  the  incom- 
petency  and  the  quarrels  of  two  of  its  generals  —  Wilkinson  and 
Wade  Hampton :  Wilkinson  ordering  a  retreat  because  Hampton 
would  not  join  him  with  his  detachment,  and  Hampton  refusing  to 
join,  because,  as  he  alleged,  provisions  were  insufficient ;  the  cam 
paign  closed  in  disaster.  But  it  was  brilliantly  redeemed  by  that 
of  the  following  year. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1814,  Colonel  Scott  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier,  and  immediately  joined  General  Brown,  then  in 
full  march  from  French  Mills  to  the  Niagara  frontier.  Brown,  who 
was  an  able  but  self-taught  commander,  perceiving  the  need  of  in 
struction  and  discipline,  left  the  camp  expressly  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  the  command  to  General  Scott,  and  enabling  him  to  carry 
out  a  system  of  instruction  and  discipline  with  the  troops  as  they 
assembled  at  Buffalo.  For  more  than  three  months  this  duty  was 
assiduously  and  most  successfully  discharged  by  General  Scott. 


BATTLE   OF   CHIPPEWA.  13 

Now  it  was  that  the  knowledge  of  the  art  of  war,  which  he  had 
so  sedulously  acquired  during  his  year  of  suspension,  came  into 
play.  He  personally  drilled  and  instructed  all  the  officers,  and  then 
in  turn  superintended  them  as  they  instructed  the  soldiers.  By  as 
siduous  labour,  he  succeeded,  at  the  end  of  three  months,  in  pre 
senting  in  the  field  an  army  skilful  in  manoeuvres,  and  confident  alike 
in  their  officers  and  in  themselves.  When  all  was  ready  for  action, 
General  Brown  resumed  the  command.  The  army  was  crossed 
over  to  Canada  in  two  brigades,  Scott's  and  Ripley's,  the  former 
below,  the  latter  above  Fort  Erie,  which  almost  immediately  sur 
rendered,  and  then  marched  to  attack  the  main  British  army,  lying 
behind  the  Chippewa  river,  under  the  command  of  General  Riall. 
On  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July — auspicious  day  ! — Scott's  bri 
gade,  several  hours  in  advance,  fell  in  with  the  100th  regiment, 
British,  commanded  by  the  Marquis  of  Tweedale,  and  kept  up  a 
running  fight  with  it  till  it  was  driven  across  the  Chippewa.  Scott 
encamped  for  the  night  behind  Street's  creek,  about  two  miles  from 
the  British  camp,  behind  the  Chippewa,  with  a  level  plain  extend 
ing  between,  skirted  on  the  east  by  the  Niagara  river,  on  the  west 
by  woods. 

On  the  5th — a  bright,  hot  day — the  morning  began  with  skir 
mishing  in  the  woods,  between  the  New  York  volunteers,  under 
General  Porter,  and  the  British  irregulars  ;  and  it  was  not  till  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  just  as  Scott,  despairing  of  bringing 
on  an  action  that  day,  was  drawing  out  his  brigade  on  the  plain  for 
drill,  that  General  Brown,  who  had  been  reconnoitring  on  the  left 
flank,  and  perceived  that  the  main  body  of  the  British  army  was 
moving  forward,  rode  up  to  General  Scott,  and  said,  "  The  enemy  is 
advancing ;  you  will  have  a  fight :"  and  without  giving  any  order, 
such  was  his  reliance  upon  Scott,  proceeded  to  the  rear  to  bring  up 
Ripley's  brigade.  Scott  immediately  prepared  for  action  ;  and  there, 
on  the  plain  of  Chippewa,  with  his  own  brigade  only,  consisting  of 
the  9th,  llth,  and  25th  regiments  of  infantry,  with  a  detachment  of 
the  22d,  Towson's  company  of  artillery,  and  Porter's  volunteers- 
in  all,  nineteen  hundred  men — encountered,  routed,  and  pursued  a 
superior  force  of  some  of  the  best  regiments  of  the  British  service 
— the  Royal  Scots,  the  8th  and  100th  regiments,  a  detachment  of 
the  19th  dragoons,  another  of  the  Royal  Artillery,  and  some  Cana 
dian  militia — in  all,  twenty-one  hundred  men.  Here  it  was  that  the 


14  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD    SCOTT. 

discipline  so  laboriously  taught  by  Scott,  in  the  camp  of  instruction, 
.told ;  and  this  it  was  that  enabled  him,  as  at  a  turning  point  of  the 
battle  he  did,  in  a  voice  rising  above  the  roar  of  artillery,  to  say  to 
McNeil's  battalion  of  the  llth  infantry : — "  The  enemy  say  that  we 
are  good  at  long  shot,  but  cannot  stand  the  cold  iron.  I  call  upon 
the  Eleventh  instantly  to  give  the  lie  to  the  slander.  Charge !" 
And  they  did  charge  ;  and,  aided  by  Leavenvvorth's  battalion,  they 
quickly  put  the  enemy  to  rout,  before  the  21st,  of  Ripley's  brigade, 
which  was  hastening  to  take  part  in  the  battle,  or  any  portion  of  that 
brigade,  could  get  up. 

Justly,  indeed,  did  General  Brown,  in  his  official  report  of  the 
battle,  say :  "  Brigadier-General  Scott  is  entitled  to  the  highest 
praise  our  country  can  bestow :  to  him,  more  than  to  any  other  man, 
am  I  indebted  for  the  victory  of  the  5th  of  July."  The  fight  was 
fierce  and  bloody  in  an  unwonted  degree,  the  killed  on  both  sides 
amounting  to  eight  hundred  and  thirty,  out  of  about  four  thousand 
engaged — more  than  one  in  five.  This  action — which  was  chiefly 
valuable,  for  the  good  effect  it  produced  upon  the  feelings  of  the  na 
tion,  by  proving  that  in  the  open  field,  and  hand  to  hand,  our  troops 
were  equal  at  least,  and  in  this  instance  had  proved  themselves  su 
perior  to  the  best  troops  of  England  — was  followed  in  just  three 
weeks  by  another,  yet  more  decisive  of  the  courage  and  discipline 
of  the  American  army — that  at  Lundy's  Lane.  General  Riall,  un 
known  to  General  Brown,  had  been  largely  reinforced  by  General 
Drummond  from  below ;  and  when,  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of 
July,  General  Scott  in  advance,  as  usual,  was  on  a  march  to  attack 
General  RialPs  forces,  he  suddenly  came  upon  the  British  troops, 
which,  reinforced  that  very  day  by  Drummond,  were  themselves 
bent  on  attack.  Scott  had  with  him  but  four  small  battalions,  com 
manded,  respectively,  by  Brady,  Jessup,Leavenworth,  and  McNeil ; 
and  Towson's  artillery,  with  Captain  Harris's  detachment  of  regular 
and  irregular  cavalry — the  whole  column  not  exceeding  thirteen 
hundred  men.  With  this  small  force,  Scott  found  himself  in  pre 
sence  of  a  superior  body.  His  position  was  critical,  but  it  was  pre 
cisely  one  of  those  where  promptness  and  decision  of  action  must 
supply  the  want  of  battalions.  Despatching  officers  to  the  rear  to 
apprise  General  Brown  that  the  whole  British  army  were  before 
him,  General  Scott  at  once  engaged  the  enemy,  who  all  the  while 
believed  they  had  to  do  with  the  whole  of  General  Brown's  army, 


BATTLE  OF  LUNDY'S  LANE.  15 

not  at  all  expecting  that  a  mere  detachment  of  it  would  venture  upon 
the  apparently  desperate  course  of  encountering  such  greatly  su 
perior  numbers  as  the  British  knew  they  had  in  the  field. 

The  battle  began  about  half  an  hour  before  sunset,  within  the 
spray,  almost,  of  the  everlasting  Falls  of  Niagara,  ajid  beneath  the 
halo  of  its  irradiated  bow  of  promise  and  of  hope.  It  is  recorded 
as  a  fact,  that  the  head  of  our  advancing  column  was  actually  en 
circled  by  this  beautiful  bow,  and  all  took  courage  from  the  omen. 
The  battle  raged  with  unequal  fortune  and  desperate  valour,  till  far 
into  the  night.  When  Miller  made  his  famous  and  decisive  charge 
upon  the  battery  of  the  British,  which  was  the  key  of  their  position, 
darkness  covered  the  earth ;  and  Scott,  who  knew  the  localities, 
piloted  Miller  on  his  way,  till  the  fire  from  the  battery  revealed  its 
position  completely.  Scott  then  resumed  the  attack  in  front,  while 
Miller  gallantly  stormed  and  carried  the  battery,  and  held  it  against 
repeated  charges  from  the  oft-rallied,  but  as  oft-dispersed,  British 
troops.  Twice,  mean  time,  had  Scott  charged  through  the  British 
lines — two  horses  had  been  killed  under  him — he  was  wounded  in 
the  side — and  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  on  foot  and  yet  fighting, 
he  was  finally  disabled  by  a  shot,  which  shattered  the  left  shoulder, 
and  he  was  borne  away  about  midnight  from  the  battle ;  his  com 
mander,  General  Brown,  having  been  previously,  in  like  manner, 
carried  away  wounded  from  the  field. 

The  honours  of  the  battle  belonged  to  the  American  arms,  although, 
from  the  want  of  horses,  they  could  not  carry  off  the  British  cannon, 
captured  with  so  much  gallantry  by  Miller.  But  the  American 
troops  retired  to  Chippewa,  and  thence  to  Fort  Erie,  where  they 
were  soon  besieged  by  General  Drummond.  Scott  was  absent,  suf 
fering  under  his  wounds ;  but  the  spirit  and  the  discipline  with 
which  his  efforts  and  his  example  had  inspired  the  army,  failed  not, 
though  he  was  no  longer  with  them ;  and  after  being  beleaguered 
near  fifty  days,  General  Brown,  who  had  sufficiently  recovered  to 
resume  the  command,  made  a  sortie,  on  the  17th  of  September,  in 
which  he  defeated  the  troops  in  the  trenches,  captured  and  destroyed 
their  works,  and  so  effectually  overthrew  all  that  it  had  cost  long 
weeks  to  accomplish,  that  the  British  commander,  General  Drum 
mond,  withdrew  his  troops,  and  soon  after  the  American  army  went 
into  winter  quarters  at  Buffalo. 


16  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

This  was  virtually,  in  this  region,  the  end  of  the  war ;  for  peace 
was  negotiated  at  Ghent  at  the  close  of  1814,  and  was  ratified  early 
the  ensuing  spring. 

Scott,  who  had  been  carried  to  Buffalo,  where  he  was  most  kindly 
and  cordially  received  and  watched  over,  as  soon  as  he  could  bear 
the  motion,  was  borne  in  a  litter  from  place  to  place  by  the  citizens 
themselves,  who  would  not  commit  to  mercenary  hands  the  care  and 
comfort  of  a  gallant  soldier,  still  disabled  by  his  wounds,  until  he 
reached  the  house  of  his  old  friend  Nicholas,  at  Geneva.  But  his 
great  desire  was  to  reach  Philadelphia,  in  order  to  avail  himself  of 
the  eminent  skill  of  Doctors  Physick  and  Chapman  ;  for  the  possi 
bility  of  being  so  crippled,  for  life,  as  to  be  incapable  of  further  ser 
vice  to  his  country,  was  to  Scott  an  intolerable  thought,  and  hence 
he  sought  the  best  surgical  aid.  He,  therefore,  by  slow  progress, 
reached  Philadelphia — everywhere  welcomed  and  honoured  on  his 
route  as  the  suffering  representative  of  the  army  on  the  Niagara, 
which  had  won  imperishable  laurels  for  the  country  and  itself. 

At  Princeton,  where  he  happened  to  arrive  on  the  day  of  the  an 
nual  commencement,  the  faculty,  students,  and  citizens  all  insisted 
on  his  taking  part  in  the  ceremonial ;  and  pale,  emaciated,  and  weak 
as  he  was,  that  he  should  be  present  during  a  part,  at  least,  of  the 
public  performances.  He  was  fain  to  comply ;  and  when,  at  the 
close  of  an  oration  "  on  the  public  duties  of  a  good  citizen,  in  peace 
and  in  war,"  the  youthful  and  graceful  orator  turned  to  Scott,  and 
made  him  the  personification  of  the  civic  and  heroic  virtues  which 
had  just  been  inculcated,  the  edifice  rang  with  applause,  woman's 
gentle  voice  mingling  in  with  the  harsher  tones  of  the  other  sex. 
The  faculty  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  A.  M.,  which  his  early 
training  and  literary  pursuits,  not  less  than  his  public  services,  ren 
dered  wholly  appropriate.  On  approaching  Philadelphia,  he  found 
the  governor  of  the  state,  Snyder,  at  the  head  of  a  division  of  militia, 
with  which  he  had  marched  out  to  receive  him. 

•  Baltimore  being  still  menaced  by  the  British,  General  Scott,  at 
the  earnest  request  of  the  citizens,  consented,  wounded  as  he  was, 
and  incapable  of  exertion,  to  assume  the  command  of  the  district ; 
and  in  such  command  the  tidings  of  peace  found  him.  After  de 
clining  the  post  of  Secretary  at  War,  proffered  to  him  by  President 
Madison,  and  aiding  in  the  painful  and  delicate  task  of  reducing  the 
army  to  a  peace  establishment,  he  was  sent  by  the  government,  to 


THANKS   OF    CONGRESS,    ETC.  17 

Europe,  both  for  the  restoration  of  his  health  and  professional  im 
provement.  He  was,  moreover,  commissioned  to  ascertain  the  views 
and  designs  of  different  courts  and  prominent  public  men  respecting 
the  revolutionary  struggle  then  commenced  in  the  Spanish  American 
colonies,  and  especially  those  of  England,  respecting  the  island  of 
Cuba — all  at  that  time  subjects  of  solicitude  at  Washington.  How 
he  acquitted  himself  of  these  commissions  may  be  inferred  from  the 
fact  that,  by  order  of  President  Madison,  a  special  letter  of  thanks 
was  written  to  him  by  the  Secretary  of  State.  After  two  years  spent 
in  Europe,  where  he  associated  with  the  most- distinguished  men  in 
all  the  walks  of  life,  attended  courses  of  public  lectures,  and  visited 
and  inspected  the  great  fortresses  and  naval  establishments,  Scott 
returned  to  the  United  States,  and  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  seaboard,  making  New  York  his  head-quarters ;  and  there,  for 
twenty  years,  except  with  occasional  absences  on  duty  in  the  west, 
he  remained.  The  gratitude  of  the  country  for  his  war  services  was 
testified  in  various  shapes.  Congress  voted  him  a  gold  medal,  and 
passed  resolutions  of  thanks,  in  which  he  was  not  only  compliment 
ed  for  his  skill  and  gallantry  at  Chippevva  and  Niagara,  but  for  his 
uniform  good  conduct  throughout  the  war — a  compliment  paid  by 
Congress  to  no  other  officer.  The  gold  medal  was  presented  by 
President  Monroe.  Virginia  and  New  York  each  voted  a  sword  to 
him ;  which,  for  Virginia,  was  presented  by  Governor  Pleasants ; 
for  New  York,  by  Governor  Tompkins.  He  was  also  elected  an 
honorary  member  of  the  Cincinnati,  and  numerous  states  named 
new  counties  after  him. 

In  the  long  interval  of  comparative  inaction  which  followed  the 
close  of  the  war,  Scott's  services  were  availed  of  by  the  general  go 
vernment — first,  in  that  most  painful  task  of  reducing  the  army  to  a 
peace  establishment,  which  necessarily  imposed  upon  the  general 
the  responsibility  of  deciding  between  the  merits  and  fitness  of 
many  gallant  men,  who  had  stood  with  him  unflinching  on  the  red 
fields  of  battle.  But  in  the  discharge  of  this,  as  of  every  other  duty 
to  his  country,  Scott  acted  with  a  single  eye  to  its  honour  and  wel 
fare.  Neither  the  relations  of  general  friendship,  nor  the  influences 
of  various  sorts,  brought  to  bear  from  without,  were  suffered  to  warp 
his  firm  mind.  He  was  there  for  his  country,  and  in  consonance 
with  what  he  thought  its  clear  interests,  was  his  course  throughout. 
The  next  important  benefit  rendered,  and  which,  perhaps,  was  not 
2*  B2 


18  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

the  least  of  all  the  many  he  was  capable  of  rendering,  was  to  trans 
late  from  the  French,  prepare,  digest,  and  adapt  to  our  service,  a 
complete  system  of  military  tactics.  In  the  execution  of  this  trust, 
his  previous  military  studies  gave  him  great  facilities  and  advan 
tages  ;  and  the  system  thus  introduced,  carried  into  effect  by  those 
jewels  of  the  nation,  the  West  Point  cadets,  has  recently  proved 
itself  at  Palo  Alto  and  Fort  Brown,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  Mon 
terey. 

The  frankness  of  his  nature,  and  his  high  sense  of  subordination, 
and  ever-present  and  active  respect  for  the  spirit  as  well  as  letter  of 
the  Constitution  of  his  country,  involved  him,  about  the  year  1817, 
in  an  unpleasant  controversy,  first  with  General  Jackson,  and  second, 
as  a  consequence  of  the  first,  with  De  Witt  Clinton.  The  particulars 
of  the  controversy  have  passed  from  memory,  and  it  is  not  our  pur 
pose  to  revive  them.  In  the  lifetime,  before  the  Presidency  of 
General  Jackson,  a  very  complete  and  soldierly  reconciliation  took 
place  between  General  Scott  and  himself.  But,  we  may  add,  in 
the  way  of  caution  and  reprobation,  that  the  whole  difficulty  arose 
from  the  unjustifiable  and  ungentlemanly  repetition  of  some  obser 
vations  made  at  a  private  dinner-table  by  General  Scott. 

Another  controversy  arose  between  General  Scott  and  General 
Gaines,  on  the  subject  of  brevet  rank,  on  occasion  of  the  appoint 
ment  of  General  Macomb  to  the  command  of  the  army,  after  the 
death  of  General  Brown.  The  government  did  not  sustain  the  views 
taken  by  General  Scott  of  the  rights  of  brevet  rank,  and  this  officer, 
in  consequence,  tendered  the  resignation  of  his  commission,  not  from 
any  mere  personal  feelings,  but  because  he  thought  that  in  his  per 
son  a  great  military  principle  was  violated.  Happily,  General 
Jackson  (then  become  president)  would  not  act  upon  the  proffered 
resignation ;  and  in  order  to  allow  time  for  reflection,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  prevent  any  damage  to  the  service  from  an  open  colli 
sion  on  points  of  duty  between  General  Scott  and  his  official  supe 
rior,  a  furlough  of  one  year  was  sent  to  him.  Scott  took  advantage 
of  the  furlough  to  revisit  Europe ;  and  on  his  return,  under  the 
earnest  advice  of  his  friends,  and,  as  is  believed,  with  the  unanimous 
approval  of  his  brother  officers,  Scott  withdrew  his  resignation,  and 
reported  himself  for  duty. 

The  Secretary  of  War,  Major  Eaton,  in  acknowledging  General 
Scott's  letter,  frankly  and  honourably  says  : 


THE   BLACK   HAWK   WAR.  19 

"  It  affords  the  department  much  satisfaction  to  perceive  the  con 
clusion  at  which  you  have  arrived  as  to  your  brevet  rights.  None 
will  do  you  the  injustice  to  suppose  that  the  opinions  declared  by 
you  on  the  subject  are  not  the  result  of  reflection  and  conviction ; 
but  since  the  constituted  authorities  of  the  government  have,  with 
the  best  feelings  entertained,  come  to  conclusions  adverse  to  your 
own,  no  other  opinions  were  cherished,  or  were  hoped  for,  but  that 
on  your  return  to  the  United  States  you  would  adopt  the  course 
your  letter  indicates,  and  with  good  feelings  resume  those  duties  of 
which  your  country  has  so  long  had  the  benefit." 

The  general  was  ordered  in  conclusion  to  report  himself  at  once 
for  duty  to  General  Macomb.  He  was  assigned  anew  to  the  eastern 
department,  and  there  remained  till  called  by  the  Black  Hawk  war 
in  1832,  to  assume  command. 

It  was  in  this  capacity  that  Scott  had  the  opportunity  of  showing 
himself  a  "  hero  of  humanity,"  as  he  had  before  shown  himself  a 
"heroin  the  battle-field."  The  Asiatic  cholera  in  this  year  first 
reached  this  continent,  and,  sweeping  with  rapid  but  irregular  strides 
from  point  to  point,  it  manifested  itself  most  fatally  on  board  the  fleet 
of  steamboats  on  Lal&  Erie,  in  which  General  Scott,  with  a  corps 
of  about  one  thousand  regulars,  embarked  for  Chicago.  They  left 
Buffalo  in  the  beginning  of  July.  On  the  8th,  the  cholera  declared 
itself  on  board  the  steamboat  in  which  General  Scott  and  staff,  and 
two  hundred  and  twenty  men  were  embarked,  and  in  less  than  six 
days  one  officer  and  fifty-one  men  died,  and  eighty  were  put  on 
shore  sick  at  Chicago.  It  was  amid  the  gloom  and  the  terror 
of  this  attack  from  a  disease,  known  only  by  its  fatal  ap 
proaches,  that  General  Scott  displayed  those  attributes  of  moral 
courage,  of  genuine  philanthropy,  which  would  weigh  so  much 
more  in  the  scale  of  national  gratitude,  than  the  exercise  of  physical 
courage — that  quality  common  to  our  race  in  the  battle-field.  From 
cot  to  cot  of  the  sick  soldiers,  their  general  daily  went,  soothing  the 
last  moments  of  the  dying,  sustaining  and  cheering  those  who  hoped 
to  survive,  and  for  all,  disarming  the  pestilence  of  that  formidable 
character  of  contagion  which  seemed  to  render  its  attack  inevitable, 
and  almost  synonymous  with  death,  by  showing  in  his  own  person 
that  he  feared  it  not.  Of  the  numbers  whom  his  heroic  self-confi 
dence  and  generous  example,  in  such  circumstances,  saved  from 
death,  by  dissipating  their  apprehensions,  no  estimate  has  ever  been 


20  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

made ;  but  such  deeds  and  such  devotion  are  not  unmarked  by  the 
eye  of  Providence,  and  cannot  be  without  their  reward. 

Of  the  nine  hundred  and  fifty  men  that  left  Buffalo,  not  more  than 
four  hundred  survived  for  active  service.  On  leaving  Chicago,  with 
this  diminished  command,  Scott  proceeded  as  rapidly  as  possible  to 
the  Mississippi,  and  there  joined  General  Atkinson  at  Prairie  du 
Cbien,  who,  in  the  battle  of  the  Badaxe,  had  already  scattered  the 
forces  of  Black  Hawk. 

In  spite  of  all  the  precaution  adopted  by  Scott  and  Atkinson,  the 
cholera  was  communicated  anew  to  the  army  assembled  at  Rock 
Island,  and  great  were  its  ravages.  Here,  again,  as  on  board  the 
steamboat,  when  the  malady  first  appeared,  Scott's  self-sacrificing 
care  and  solicitude  for  his  men  were  unceasing. 

It  was  late  in  September  before  the  dread  disease  was  extirpated 
from  the  camp,  and  then  commenced  the  negotiations  with  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes;  this  was  concluded  by  Scott  with  consummate  skill, 
and  resulted  in  the  cession,  for  a  valuable  consideration,  of  the  fine 
region  which  now  constitutes  the  state  of  Iowa.  Another  treaty 
was  made  on  the  same  terms  by  him  with  the  Winnebagoes,  by 
which  they  ceded  some  five  million  acres  of  land  east  of  the  Missis 
sippi  and  between  the  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  now  constituting  a 
valuable  portion  of  the  territory  of  Wisconsin.  In  reference,  as  \\ell 
to  his  successful  negotiations,  as  to  his  humane  conduct  under  the 
calamity  of  pestilence,  the  then  Secretary  of  War,  General  Cass, 
wrote  thus  to  General  Scott: 

"  Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  fortunate  consummation 
of  your  arduous  duties,  and  to  express  my  entire  approbation  of  the 
whole  course  of  your  proceedings,  during  a  series  of  difficulties  re 
quiring  higher  moral  courage  than  the  operations  of  an- active  cam 
paign  under  ordinary  circumstances." 

Scarcely  had  Scott  reached  home  and  his  family  in  New  York, 
when  he  was  detailed  by  President  Jackson  to  a  new,  important, 
and  most  delicate  duty,  that  of  maintaining  at  home  the  supremacy 
of  the  United  States  against  South  Carolina  nullification.  He  imme 
diately  proceeded  to  Washington,  and  there,  in  personal  interviews 
with  the  president  and  the  cabinet,  becoming  fully  possessed  of  their 
views,  and  having  expressed  to  them  his  own,  he  was  invested 
with  very  ample  discretionary  power  to  meet  the  perilous  crisis. 
In  no  scene  of  his  life,  perhaps,  has  General  Scott  exhibited  more 


SCOTT    IN   FLORIDA.  21 

thorough  patriotism — more  entire  devotion  to  the  laws  and  constitu 
tion  of  his  country — more  anxious,  and  skilfully-conducted  efforts  to 
arrest  that  direst  of  calamities,  civil  war — more  self-command — more 
tact  and  talent — than  while  stationed  at  Fort  Moultrie,  in  Charleston 
Harbour,  and  face  to  face,  as  it  were,  with  nullification  in  arms.  A 
single  drop  of  blood  shed  at  that  moment  might  have  deluged  the 
nation  in  blood  —  and  yet  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  made  in 
conformity  with  the  constitution,  Scott  was  sworn  and  commissioned 
to  uphold,  defend,  and  enforce :  the  point  of  difficulty  was  to  avert 
the  bloodshed,  and  yet  maintain  the  laws ;  and  he  came  off  entirely 
successful  in  both — under  circumstances  that  history  will  do  justice 
to,  as  those  who  remember  the  fearful  apprehensions  of  that  day  did 
at  the  time,  and  still  do. 

His  next  field  of  public  service  was  in  Florida,  where  the  Semi- 
noles  —  in  possession  of  the  everglades,  and  having  taken  our  troops 
at  unawares — owing  to  the  want  of  adequate  preparation  by  the  ad 
ministration,  although  timely  warned  of  the  danger  by  the  gallant 
Clinch  —  seemed  for  a  time  to  set  the  whole  efforts  of  our  country 
at  defiance. 

On  the  20th  January,  1836,  General  Scott  was  ordered  to  the 
command  of  the  troops  in  Florida,  and  he  displayed  his  habitual 
promptitude  in  obeying  the  order.  He  was  apprised  of  the  will  of 
the  president  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  asked  when  he 
.could  set  forth.  "This  night,"  was  the  reply.  But  a  day's  delay 
was  required  to  draw  up  the  requisite  instructions,  and  he  left 
Washington  on  the  21st. 

We  enter  not  here  into  an  examination  of  the  steps  taken  and  the 
plans  devised  by  General  Scott,  to  bring  to  a  rapid  and  sure  termi 
nation  these  disastrous  and  discreditable  hostilities,  nor  into  the 
manner  or  the  motives  of  his  unmilitary  recall,  and  of  the  subse 
quent  investigation  of  his  conduct  by  a  court  of  inquiry  ;  these  are 
among  the  historic  archives  of  the  nation.  Our  only  concern  here 
with  them  is  to  say,  that  this  court  unanimously  approved  his  con 
duct — pronounced  the  plan  of  his  Seminole  campaign  "well  devised," 
and  added  that  it  "was  prosecuted  with  energy,  steadiness,  and 
ability."  With  regard  to  the  Creek  war,  which  at  the  same  time 
fell  upon  his  hands,  the  court  found  "that  the  plan  of  campaign 
adopted  by  Major-General  Scott  was  well  calculated  to  lead  to  suc 
cessful  results ;  and  that  it  was  prosecuted  by  him,  as  far  ai  practi- 


22  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

cable,  with  zeal  and  ability,  until  he  was  recalled  from  the  com 
mand." 

Mr.  Van  Buren,  who  had  now  become  president,  approved  the 
finding  of  the  court,  and  the  nation  at  large  ratified  the  verdict. 
Public  dinners  were  tendered  to  General  Scott  by  the  citizens  of 
New  York,  of  Richmond,  and  of  other  places,  all  of  which,  how 
ever,  he  declined ;  and  was  in  the  discharge  of  the  ordinary  duties 
of  his  station,  when  the  patriot  troubles  broke  out  in  1837  on  the 
Canada  frontier.  For  two  years  these  troubles  agitated  our  coun 
try,  and  seriously  menaced  its  peace.  To  no  man  in  so  great  a 
degree  as  to  General  Scott  is  it  indebted  for  the  preservation  of  that 
peace.  His  honour  and  patriotism,  his  approved  military  service, 
his  reputation  and  his  bearing  as  a  soldier,  gave  great  effect  to  his 
frank  and  friendly  expostulations  with  the  deluded  American  citi 
zens,  who  supposed  they  were  acting  patriotically  in  taking  part 
with  the  Canadian  revolters ;  and  by  kindness  and  reason,  combined 
with  much  skill  and  assiduity  in  discovering  and  tracing  the  rami 
fications  of  the  patriot  lodges,  he  was  enabled  to  prevent  any  out 
break  that  might  compromise  our  country  with  Great  Britain.  His 
return  from  the  Niagara  frontier  was  greeted  with  compliments  at 
Albany  and  elsewhere,  and  all  felt  that  a  great  national  good  had 
been  accomplished  by  this  gallant  soldier. 

In  1838,  another  difficult  and  painful  service  was  confided  to  Gene 
ral  Scott — that  of  removing  the  Cherokees  from  the  homes  of  their 
fathers,  to  the  region  beyond  the  Mississippi.  Here  he  was  as  suc 
cessful  as  in  all  previous  public  service  :  tempering  humanity  with 
power,  and  operating  more  by  moral  influence  than  force,  he  effected 
this  most  trying  object  in  a  manner  that  secured  the  gratitude  of  those 
whom  he  was,  acting  for  his  country,  obliged  to  wrong.  It  was 
this  service,  connected  with  his  subsequent  pacific  arrangement  of 
the  north-eastern  boundary  difficulties,  that  drew  from  the  lamented 
Channing — that  apostle  of  human  rights — this  fine  tribute : 

"To  this  distinguished  man  belongs  the  rare  honour  of  uniting 
with  military  energy  and  daring  the  spirit  of  a  philanthropist.  His 
exploits  in  the  field,  which  placed  him  in  the  first  rank  of  our  sol 
diers,  have  been  obscured  by  the  purer  and  more  lasting  glory  of  a 
pacificator,  arid  of  a  friend  of  mankind.  In  the  whole  history  of  the 
intercourse  of  civilized  with  barbarous  or  half-civilized  communities, 
we  doubt  whether  a  brighter  page  can  be  found  than  that  which  re- 


NORTH-EASTERN  BOUNDARY  QUESTION.      23 

cords  his  agency  in  the  removal  of  the  Cherokees.  As  far  as  the 
wrongs  done  to  this  race  can  be  atoned  for,  General  Scott  has  made 
the  expiation. 

"  In  his  recent  mission  to  the  disturbed  borders  of  our  country, 
he  has  succeeded,  not  so  much  by  policy  as  by  the  nobleness  and 
generosity  of  his  character,  by  moral  influences,  by  the  earnest  con 
viction  with  which  he  has  enforced  upon  all  with  whom  he  has  had 
to  do,  the  obligations  of  patriotism,  justice,  humanity,  and  religion. 
It  would  not  be  easy  to  find  among  us  a  man  who  has  won  a  purer 
fame,  and  I  am  happy  to  offer  this  tribute,  because  I  would  do  some 
thing —  no  matter  how  little — to  hasten  the  time  when  the  spirit  of 
Christian  humanity  shall  be  accounted  an  essential  attribute,  and  the 
brightest  ornament  to  a  public  man." 

This  is  justly  said,  and  most  justly  applied. 

In  1839,  Scott  was  again  deputed  by  the  government  to  keep  the 
peace,  and,  soldier  as  he  is,  to  use  all  his  great  influence  to  prevent 
the  occurrence  of  war.  The  dispute  respecting  the  contested  boun 
dary  on  the  north-eastern  frontier  had  become  alarming  —  Massa 
chusetts  and  Maine  on  one  side,  and  New  Brunswick  on  the  other, 
had  in  some  degree  taken  the  matter  into  their  own  hands,  and 
hostile  bands  stood  facing  each  other ;  a  single  indiscretion  among 
them  might  have  precipitated  war  beyond  the  possibility  of  its  being 
averted.  Happily,  a  friendship  formed  on  the  field  of  battle,  in 
years  long  past,  between  General  Scott  and  General  Sir  John  Har 
vey,  the  governor  of  New  Brunswick,  contributed  to  smooth  the 
difficulties  between  the  two  nations.  General  Scott  having  over 
come  the  first  great  obstacles  in  soothing  the  irritated  feelings  of  the 
American  borderers,  made  overtures  to  Sir  John  Harvey  for  the 
mutual  withdrawal  of  troops  from  the  disputed  territory ;  and  Sir 
John  frankly  acceded  to  them,  saying  in  his  letter  of  the  23d  March, 
1839,  to  General  Scott,  "  My  reliance  upon  you,  my  dear  general, 
has  led  me  to  give  my  willing  assent  to  the  proposition  which  you 
have  made  yourself  the  very  acceptable  means  of  conveying  to  me." 

The  menacing  position  of  affairs  was  now  effectually  changed  into 
feelings  of  reciprocal  forbearance,  and  Daniel  Webster  finally  accom 
plished,  by  the  treaty  at  Washington,  the  good  work  so  satisfactorily 
commenced  by  the  pacificator,  Scott. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  actual  hostilities  between  the 
United  States  and  Mexico,  Scott  requested  of  government  permis- 


24  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD    SCOTT. 

sion  to  join  General  Taylor  with  a  large  army,  and  push  forward 
for  the  enemy's  capital.  This  was  denied  him,  and  he  remained  at 
Washington  until  November.  Receiving  orders  to  proceed  to  the 
seat  of  war,  he  embarked  from  New  York,  and  reached  the  mouth 
of  the  Rio  Grande  January  1st,  1847.  After  mustering  an  army  of 
nearly  twelve  thousand  men,  part  of  them  from  General  Taylor's 
force,  he  proceeded  against  the  city  and  castle  of  Vera  Cruz,  the 
first  object  of  the  campaign.  The  following  graphic  description  of 
the  landing  of  the  troops  and  siege  of  the  city,  is  from  the  pen  of 
an  eye-witness : — 

"  On  the  fifth  day  of  March,  1847,  while  the  American  squadron 
was  lying  at  Anton  Lizardo,  a  norther  sprang  up,  and  commenced 
blowing  with  great  violence.  The  ships  rolled  and  pitched,  and 
tugged  at  their  anchors,  as  if  striving  to  tear  them  from  their  hold, 
while  the  sea  was  white  with  foam.  About  noon,  General  Scott's 
fleet  of  transports,  destined  for  the  reduction  of  Vera  Cruz,  came 
like  a  great  white  cloud  bearing  down  before  the  storm.  The  whole 
eastern  horizon  looked  like  a  wall  of  canvass.  Vessel  after  vessel 
came  flying  in  under  reduced  sail,  until  the  usually  quiet  harbour  was 
crowded  with  them.  A  perfect  wilderness  of  spars  and  rigging  met 
the  eye  at  every  turn  ;  and  for  five  days,  all  was  bustle,  activity  and 
excitement.  Officers  of  the  two  services  were  visiting  about  from 
ship  to  ship ;  drums  were  beating,  bands  of  music  playing,  and 
every  thing  told  of  an  approaching  conflict. 

"  On  the  10th,  the  army  were  conveyed  in  huge  surf-boats  from 
the  transports  to  the  different  ships  of  war,  which  immediately  got 
under  way  for  Vera  Cruz.  During  the  passage  down  to  the  city, 
I  was  in  the  fore-top  of  the  United  States'  sloop-of-war  'Albany,' 
from  which  place  I  had  a  good  view  of  all  that  occurred.  It  was  a 
*  sight  to  see !'  The  tall  ships  of  war  sailing  leisurely  along  under 
their  top-sails,  their  decks  thronged  in  every  part  with  dense  masses 
of  troops,  whose  bright  muskets  and  bayonets  were  flashing  in  the 
sunbeams ;  the  gingling  of  spurs  and  sabres ;  the  bands  of  music 
playing ;  the  hum  of  the  multitude  rising  up  like  the  murmur  of  the 
distant  ocean ;  the  small  steamers  plying  about,  their  decks  crowded 
with  anxious  spectators ;  the  long  lines  of  surf-boats  towing  astern 
of  the  ships,  ready  to  disembark  the  troops ;  all  these  tended  to 
render  the  scene  one  of  the  deepest  interest. 

"About  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  armada  arrived  abreast  of  the 


SIEGE   OF   VERA    CRUZ.  25 

Jittle  desert  island  of  Sacrificio,  where  the  time-worn  walls  and  bat- 
demerits  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  old  grim  castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa, 
with  their  ponderous  cannon,  tier  upon  tier,  basking  in  the  yellow 
rays  of  the  sun,  burst  upon  our  view.  It  was  a  most  beautiful,  nay, 
a  sublime  sight,  that  embarkation.  I  still  retained  my  position  in 
the  fore-top,  and  was  watching  every  movement  with  the  most 
anxious  interest ;  for  it  was  thought  by  many  that  the  enemy  would 
oppose  the  landing  of  our  troops.  About  four  o'clock,  the  huge 
surf-boats,  each  capable  of  conveying  one  hundred  men,  were  haul 
ed  to  the  gang-ways  of  the  different  men-of-war,  and  quickly  laden 
with  their  *  warlike  fraughtage ;'  formed  in  a  single  line,  nearly  a 
mile  in  length ;  and  at  a  given  signal,  commenced  slowly  moving 
toward  the  Mexican  shore.  It  was  a  grand  spectacle !  On,  on 
went  the  long  range  of  boats,  loaded  down  to  the  gunwales  with 
brave  men,  the  rays  of  the  slowly-departing  sun  resting  upon  their 
uniforms  and  bristling  bayonets,  and  wrapping  the  far  inland  and 
fantastic  mountains  of  Mexico  in  robes  of  gold.  On  they  went; 
the  measured  stroke  of  the  countless  oars  mingling  with  the  hoarse 
dull  roar  of  the  trampling  surf  upon  the  sandy  beach,  and  the  shriek 
of  the  myriads  of  sea-birds  soaring  high  in  air,  until  the  boats  struck 
the  shore,  and  quick  as  thought  our  army  began  to  land.  At  this 
instant,  the  American  flag  was  planted,  and  unrolling  its  folds,  float 
ed  proudly  out  upon  the  evening  breeze ;  the  crews  of  the  men-of- 
war  made  the  welkin  ring  with  their  fierce  cheering;  and  a  dozen 
bands  of  music,  at  the  same  time,  and  as  if  actuated  by  one  impulse, 
struck  up 

'  'T  is  the  star-spangled  banner  !  O,  long  may  it  wave, 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave !' 

"  Early  the  next  morning,  the  old  grim  castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa 
commenced  trying  the  range  of  its  heavy  guns,  throwing  Paixhan 
shells  at  the  army,  and  continued  it  at  intervals  for  a  week ;  but 
with  the  exception  of  an  occasional  skirmish  with  a  party  of  the 
enemy's  lancers,  they  had  all  the  fun  to  themselves.  In  the  mean 
time  our  forces  went  quietly  on  with  their  preparations,  stationing 
their  pickets,  planting  their  heavy  mortars,  landing  their  horses, 
provisions  and  munitions  of  war,  constantly  annoyed  with  a  cease 
less  fire  from  the  Mexican  batteries,  which  our  troops  were  as  yet 
too  busy  to  return. 

3  c 


26  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

"On  the  24th,  Lieutenant  Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  with  a  zeal 
worthy  of  his  illustrious  father,  *  the  hero  of  Lake  Erie,'  dismounted 
one  of  the  waist  guns  of  the  'Albany,'  a  sixty-eight-pounder,  pro 
cured  a  number  of  volunteers  who  would  willingly  have  charged 
up  to  the  muzzles  of  the  Mexican  cannon  with  such  a  leader,  and 
taking  about  forty  rounds  of  Paixhan  shells,  proceeded  on  shore, 
where,  after  dragging  his  gun  through  the  sand  for  three  miles,  he 
arrived  at  a  small  fortification,  which  the  engineers  had  constructed 
of  sand-bags  for  him,  and  there  planted  his  engine  of  destruction, 
in  a  situation  which  commanded  the  whole  city  of  Vera  Cruz. 
Roused  by  such  a  gallant  example,  guns  from  each  of  the  other 
ships  of  the  squadron  were  disembarked,  and  conveyed  to  the  breast 
work,  which  was  as  yet  concealed  from  the  eyes  of  the  Mexicans, 
by  being  in  the  rear  of  an  almost  impervious  chapparal,  and  in  a 
short  time  a  most  formidable  fortress  was  completed,  which  was 
styled  the  Naval  Battery. 

"At  this  period,  General  Scott,  having  quietly  made  all  his  ar 
rangements,  while  a  constant  shower  of  shot  and  shell  were  thrown 
at  his  army  by  the  enemy,  sent  a  flag  of  truce,  with  a  summons  for 
the  immediate  surrender  of  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  castle 
of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa,  and  with  a  full  understanding  that  unless  his 
demand  was  immediately  complied  with,  an  attack  would  follow. 
As  a  matter  of  course,  the  Mexicans,  expecting  an  assault,  for  which 
they  were  well  prepared,  and  not  a  bombardment,  returned  an  in 
dignant  refusal,  and  were  told  that  at  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  they  should 
hear  farther  from  us.  In  the  mean  time,  the  chapparal  had  been 
cut  away,  disclosing  the  Naval  Battery  to  the  gaze  of  the  astonished 
Mexicans,  and  the  mortars  and  heavy  artillery,  which  had  been 
planted  upon  the  hills  overlooking  the  city,  and  were  ready  to  vomit 
forth  their  fires  of  death.  Every  person  was  now  waiting  with 
trembling  anxiety  the  commencement  of  the  fray. 

"About  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  while  the  crews  of  the  squadron  were 
all  at  supper,  a  sudden  and  tremendous  roar  of  artillery  on  shore 
proclaimed  that  the  battle  had  begun.  The  tea-things  were  left  to 
*take  care  of  themselves,'  and  pellmell  tumbled  sick  and  well  up 
the  ladders  to  the  spar-deck.  I  followed  with  the  human  tide,  and 
soon  found  myself  in  the  fore-top  of  the  'Albany,'  and  looking 
around  me,  a  sublime  but  terrific  sight  my  elevated  perch  presented 
to  the  view.  Some  two  hundred  sail  of  vessels  were  lying  imme- 


SIEGE   OF  VERA    CRUZ.  27 

diately  around  us,  their  tops,  cross-trees,  yards,  shrouds  —  every 
thing  where  a  foot-hold  could  be  obtained  —  crowded  with  human 
beings,  clustered  like  swarming  bees  in  mid-summer  on  the  trees, 
all  intently  watching  the  battle.  I  turned  rny  eyes  on  shore.  JONA 
THAN  had  at  last  awakened  from  his  slumber,  and  had  set  to  work 
in  earnest.  Bomb-shells  were  flying  like  hail-stones  into  Vera  Cruz 
from  every  quarter ;  sulphurous  flashes,  clouds  of  smoke,  and  the 
dull  boom  of  the  heavy  guns  arose  from  the  walls  of  the  city  in  re 
turn,  while  ever  and  anon  a  red  sheet  of  flame  would  leap  from  the 
great  brass  mortars  on  the  ramparts  of  the  grim  castle,  followed  by 
a  report,  which  fairly  made  the  earth  tremble.  The  large  ships  of 
the  squadron  could  not  approach  near  enough  to  the  shore  to  parti 
cipate  in  the  attack  upon  the  city,  without  exposing  them  to  the  fire 
of  the  castle  ;  but  all  the  gun-boats,  small  steamers,  and  every  thing 
that  could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  enemy,  were  sent  in  and 
commenced  blazing  away ;  a  steady  stream  of  fire,  like  the  red 
glare  of  a  volcano !  This  state  of  things  continued  until  sunset, 
when  the  small  vessels  were  called  off;  but  the  mortars  kept  throw 
ing  shells  into  the  devoted  town  the  live-long  night.  I  was  watch 
ing  them  until  after  midnight,  and  it  was  one  of  the  most  striking 
displays  that  I  ever  beheld. 

"A  huge  black  cloud  of  smoke  hung  like  a  pall  over  the  American 
army,  completely  concealing  it  from  view  ;  the  Mexicans  had  ceased 
firing,  in  order  to  prevent  our  troops  from  directing  their  guns  by 
the  flashes  from  the  walls ;  but  the  bombardiers  had  obtained  the 
exact  range  before  dark,  and  kept  thundering  away,  every  shell  fall 
ing  directly  into  the  doomed  city.  Suddenly,  a  vivid,  lightning-like 
flash  would  gleam  for  an  instant  upon  the  black  pall  of  smoke  hang 
ing  over  our  lines,  and  then  as  the  roar  of  the  great  mortar  came 
borne  to  our  ears,  the  ponderous  shell  would  be  seen  to  dart  upward 
like  a  meteor,  and  after  describing  a  semi-circle  in  the  air,  descend 
with  a  loud  crash  upon  the  house-tops,  or  into  the  resounding  streets 
of  the  fated  city.  Then,  after  a  brief  but  awful  moment  of  sus 
pense,  a  lurid  glare,  illuminating  for  an  instant  the  white  domes  and 
grim  fortresses  of  Vera  Cruz,  falling  into  ruins  with  the  shock,  and 
the  echoing  crash  that  came  borne  to  our  ears,  told  that  the  shell 
had  exploded,  and  executed  its  terrible  mission ' 

"Throughout  the  whole  night  these  fearful  missiles  were  travel 
ling  into  the  city  in  one  continued  stream  ;  but  the  enemy  did  not 


28  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD    SCOTT. 

return  the  fire.     At  day-light,  however,  the  Mexicans  again  opened 
their  batteries  upon  our  army,  with  the  most  determined  bravery. 

"About  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  gallant  Perry  and  his  brave  asso 
ciates,  having  finished  the  mounting  of  their  guns,  and  completed 
all  their  arrangements,  opened  with  a  tremendous  roar  the  Naval 
Battery  upon  the  west  side  of  the  city,  and  were  immediately  an 
swered  from  four  distinct  batteries  of  the  enemy.  The  firm  earth 
trembled  beneath  the  discharge  of  these  ponderous  guns,  and  the 
shot  flew  like  hail  into  the  town,  and  were  returned  with  interest 
by  the  Mexicans.  Their  heavy  guns  were  served  with  wonderful 
precision ;  and  almost  every  shot  struck  the  little  fort,  burst  open 
the  sand-bags  of  which  it  was  constructed,  and  covered  our  brave 
officers  and  men  with  a  cloud  of  dust.  Many  shot  and  shell  were 
thrown  directly  through  the  embrasures  ;  and  to  use  the  expressions 
of  one  of  our  old  tars  who  had  been  in  several  engagements, « the 
red-skins  handled  their  long  thirty-two's  as  if  they  had  been  rifles!' 
Several  of  our  men  and  one  officer  had  fallen,  but  the  remainder  of 
the  brave  fellows  kept  blazing  away  ;  while  the  forts  and  ramparts 
of  the  city  began  to  crumble  to  the  earth.  This  state  of  things  con 
tinued  until  the  twenty-seventh;  the  army  throwing  a  constant 
shower  of  bombs  into  the  city,  and  the  Naval  Battery,  (manned 
daily  by  fresh  officers  and  men,)  beating  down  the  fortifications,  and 
destroying  every  thing  within  its  range,  when  a  flag  of  truce  was 
sent  out  with  an  offer,  which  was  immediately  accepted,  of  an  un 
conditional  surrender  of  the  eity  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  castle  of  San 
Juan  d'Ulloa." 

Before  the  siege  commenced,  General  Scott  had  sent  printed  pass 
ports  to  the  different  consuls,  and  also  requested  a  surrender  of  the 
city,  in  order  to  preserve  the  lives  of  the  non-combatants.  These 
were  disregarded  at  the  time ;  but  when  the  siege  was  in  full  ope 
ration,  he  received  a  communication  from  the  consuls,  requesting 
that  the  women  and  children  might  be  permitted  to  pass  out.  His 
answer  we  give  in  his  own  words : — 

"  I  enclose  a  copy  of  a  memorial  received  last  night,  signed  by 
the  consuls  of  Great  Britain,  France,  Spain,  and  Prussia,  within 
Vera  Cruz,  asking  me  to  grant  a  truce  to  enable  the  neutrals,  to 
gether  with  Mexican  women  and  children,  to  withdraw  from  the 
scene  of  havoc  about  them.  I  shall  reply,  the  moment  that  an  op 
portunity  may  be  taken,  to  say — 1.  That  a  truce  can  only  be  granted 


TERMS   OF   THE    SURRENDER.  29 

on  the  application  of  Governor  Morales,  with  a  view  to  surrender. 
2.  That  in  sending  safeguards  to  the  different  consuls,  beginning  as 
far  back  as  the  13th  inst.,  I  distinctly  admonished  them — particularly 
the  French  and  Spanish  consuls — and  of  course,  through  the  two, 
the  other  consuls,  of  the  dangers  that  have  followed.  3.  That  al 
though  at  that  date  I  had  already  refused  to  allow  any  person  what 
soever  to  pass  the  line  of  investment  either  way,  yet  the  blockade 
had  been  left  open  to  the  consuls  and  other  neutrals  to  pass  out  to 
their  respective  ships  of  war  up  to  the  22d  instant ;  and  4th : 

"I  shall  enclose  to  the  memorialists  a  copy  of  my  summons  to 
the  governor,  to  show  that  I  had  fully  considered  the  impending 
hardships  and  distresses  of  the  place,  including  those  of  women  and 
children,  before  one  gun  had  been  fired  in  that  direction.  The  in 
tercourse  between  the  neutral  ships  of  war  and  the  city  was  stopped 
at  the  last-mentioned  date  by  Commodore  Perry,  with  my  concur 
rence,  which  I  placed  on  the  ground  that  the  intercourse  could  not 
fail  to  give  to  the  enemy  moral  aid  and  comfort." 

The  following  were  the  terms  of  surrender,  finally  agreed  upon 
by  Generals  Worth  and  Pillow,  and  Colonel  Totten,  on  the  part  of 
the  Americans,  and  Villannuera,  Herrera,  and  Robles,  on  the  part 
of  the  Mexicans  ! 

"  1.  The  whole  garrison,  or  garrisons,  to  be  surrendered  to  the 
arms  of  the  United  States,  as  prisoners  of  war,  the  29th  instant,  at 
ten  o'clock,  A.  M. ;  the  garrisons  to  be  permitted  to  march  out  with 
all  the  honours  of  war,  and  to  lay  down  their  arms  to  such  officers 
as  may  be  appointed  by  the  general-in-chief  of  the  United  States' 
armies,  and  at  a  point  to  be  agreed  upon  by  the  commissioners. 

"  2.  Mexican  officers  shall  preserve  their  arms  and  private  effects, 
including  horses  and  horse-furniture,  and  to  be  allowed,  regular  and 
irregular  officers,  as  also  the  rank  and  file,  five  days  to  retire  to  their 
respective  homes,  on  parole,  as  hereinafter  prescribed. 

"  3.  Coincident  with  the  surrender,  as  stipulated  in  article  1,  the 
Mexican  flags  of  the  various  forts  and  stations  shall  be  struck,  sa 
luted  by  their  own  batteries ;  and,  immediately  thereafter,  Forts 
Santiago  and  Conception,  and  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  oc 
cupied  by  the  forces  of  the  United  States. 

"4.  The  rank  and  file  of  the  regular  portion  of  the  prisoners  to 
be  disposed  of  after  surrender  and  parole,  as  their  general-in-chief 
3*  c2 


30  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

may  desire,  and  the  irregular  to  be  permitted  to  return  to  their 
homes.  The  officers,  in  respect  to  all  arms  and  descriptions  of 
force,  giving  the  usual  parole,  that  the  said  rank  and  file,  as  well  as 
themselves,  shall  not  serve  again  until  duly  exchanged. 

"  5.  All  the  material  of  war,  and  all  public  property  of  every 
description  found  in  the  city,  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  and 
their  dependencies,  to  belong  to  the  United  States  ;  but  the  arma 
ment  of  the  same  (not  injured  or  destroyed  in  the  further  prosecu 
tion  of  the  actual  war)  may  be  considered  as  liable  to  be  restored  to 
Mexico  by  a  definite  treaty  of  peace. 

"  6.  The  sick  and  wounded  Mexicans  to  be  allowed  to  remain  in 
the  city,  with  such  medical  officers  and  attendants,  and  officers  of 
the  army  as  may  be  necessary  to  their  care  and  treatment. 

"7.  Absolute  protection  is  solemnly  guarantied  to  persons  in  the 
city,  and  property,  and  it  is  clearly  understood  that  no  private  build 
ing  or  property  is  to  be  taken  or  used  by  the  forces  of  the  United 
States,  without  previous  arrangement  with  the  owners,  and  for  a 
fair  equivalent. 

"8.  Absolute  freedom  of  religious  worship  and  ceremonies  is 
solemnly  guarantied." 

General  Scott  remained  about  two  weeks  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  then 
set  out  for  the  capital.  On  the  17th  of  April  he  arrived  at  the  pass 
of  Sierra  Gordo,  where  General  Santa  Anna  was  entrenched  with 
eleven  thousand  men.  On  the  same  day  Scott  issued  the  following 
celebrated  order : — 

"The  enemy's  whole  line  of  entrenchments  and  batteries  will  be 
attacked  in  front,  and  at  the  same  time  turned,  early  in  the  day  to 
morrow — probably  before  ten  o'clock,  A.  M. 

"  The  second  (Twiggs's)  division  of  regulars  is  already  advanced 
within  easy  turning  distance  towards  the  enemy's  left.  That  divi 
sion  has  orders  to  move  forward  before  daylight  to-morrow,  and  take 
up  position  across  the  National  Road  to  the  enemy's  rear,  so  as  to 
cut  off  a  retreat  towards  Jalapa.  It  may  be  reinforced  to-day,  if 
unexpectedly  attacked  in  force,  by  regiments  one  or  two,  taken  from 
Shields's  brigade  of  volunteers.  If  not,  the  two  volunteer  regi 
ments  will  march  for  that  purpose  at  daylight  to-morrow  morning, 
under  Brigadier-General  Shields,  who  will  report  to  Brigadier-Ge 
neral  Twiggs  on  getting  up  with  him,  or  the  genera l-in-chief,  if  he 
be  in  advance. 


SCOTT'S  CELEBRATED  ORDER.          31 

"The  remaining  regiment  of  that  volunteer  brigade  will  receive 
instructions  in  the  course  of  this  day. 

"  The  first  division  of  regulars  (Worth's)  will  follow  the  move 
ment  against  the  enemy's  left  at  sunrise  to-morrow  morning. 

"As  already  arranged,  Brigadier-General  Pillow's  brigade  will 
march  at  six  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  along  the  route  he  has  care 
fully  reconnoitred,  and  stand  ready  as  soon  as  he  hears  the  report 
of  arms  on  our  right — sooner,  if  circumstances  should  favour  him 
— to  pierce  the  enemy's  line  of  batteries  at  such  point — the  nearer 
the  river  the  better — as  he  may  select.  Once  in  the  rear  of  thai 
line,  he  will  turn  to  the  right  or  left,  or  both,  and  attack  the  batteries 
in  reverse,  or  if  abandoned,  he  will  pursue  the  enemy  with  vigour 
until  further  orders. 

"  Wall's  field-battery  and  the  cavalry  will  be  held  in  reserve  on 
the  National  Road,  a  little  out  of  view  and  range  of  the  enemy's 
batteries.  They  will  take  up  that  position  at  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning. 

"  The  enemy's  batteries  being  carried  or  abandoned,  all  our  divi 
sions  and  corps  will  pursue  with  vigour. 

"This  pursuit  maybe  continued  many  miles,  until  stopped  by 
darkness,  or  fortified  positions  towards  Jalapa.  Consequently,  the 
body  of  the  army  will  not  return  to  this  encampment,  but  be  fol 
lowed  to-morrow  afternoon,  or  early  the  next  morning,  by  the  bag 
gage  trains  for  the  several  corps.  For  this  purpose,  the  feebler  offi 
cers  and  men  of  each  corps  will  be  left  to  guard  its  camp  and  effects, 
and  to  load  up  the  latter  in  the  wagons  of  the  corps. 

"  As  soon  as  it  shall  be  known  that  the  enemy's  works  have  been 
carried,  or  that  the  general  pursuit  has  been  commenced,  one  wagon 
for  each  regiment,  and  one  for  the  cavalry,  will  follow  the  move 
ment,  to  receive,  under  the  directions  of  medical  officers,  the 
wounded,  who  will  be  brought  back  to  this  place  for  treatment  in 
the  general  hospital. 

"The  surgeon-general  will  organize  this  important  service  and 
designate  that  hospital,  as  well  as  the  medical  officers  to  be  left  at 
that  place. 

"Every  man  who  marches  out  to  attack  or  pursue  the  enemy 
will  take  the  usual  allowance  of  ammunition,  and  subsistence  for  at 
least  two  days." 

This  document  is  famous  for  its  exact  delineation  of  every  move- 


32  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

ment  of  the  battle,  with  one  single  exception,  the  day  before  the 
action  really  took  place.  This  is  shown  by  the  annexed  report, 
written  after  the  engagement : — 

"The  plan  of  attack,  sketched  in  General  Orders,  No.  Ill,  here 
with,  was  finely  executed  by  this  gallant  army,  before  two  o'clock, 
P.  M.,  yesterday.  We  are  quite  embarrassed  with  the  results  of 
victory  —  prisoners  of  war,  heavy  ordnance,  field  batteries,  small 
arms,  and  accoutrements.  About  three  thousand  men  laid  down 
their  arms  with  the  usual  proportion  of  field  and  company  officers, 
besides  five  generals,  several  of  them  of  great  distinction.  Pinson, 
Jarerro,  La  Vega,  Noriega,  and  Obando.  A  sixth  general,  Vasquez, 
was  killed  in  defending  the  battery  (tower)  in  the  rear  of  the  whole 
Mexican  army,  the  capture  of  which  gave  us  those  glorious  re 
sults. 

"Our  loss,  though  comparatively  small  in  numbers,  has  been  se 
rious.  Brigadier-General  Shields,  a  commander  of  activity,  zeal, 
and  talent,  is,  I  fear,  if  not  dead,  mortally  wounded.  He  is  some 
five  miles  from  me  at  the  moment.  The  field  of  operations  covered 
many  miles,  broken  by  mountains  and  deep  chasms,  and  I  have  not 
a  report,  as  yet,  from  any  division  or  brigade.  Twiggs's  division, 
followed  by  Shields's  (now  Colonel  Baker's)  brigade,  are  now  at,  or 
near  Jalapa,  and  Worth's  division  is  en  route  thither,  all  pursuing, 
with  good  results,  as  I  learn,  that  part  of  the  Mexican  army  —  per 
haps  six  or  seven  thousand  men,  who  fled  before  our  right  had  carried 
the  tower,  and  gained  the  Jalapa  road.  Pillow's  brigade,  alone,  is 
near  me,  at  this  depot  of  wounded,  sick,  and  prisoners  ;  and  I  have 
time  only  to  give  from  him  the  names  of  1st  Lieutenant  F.  B.  Nel 
son,  and  3d  C.  G.  Gill,  both  of  the  2d  Tennessee  foot  (HaskelFs 
regiment)  among  the  killed,  and  in  the  brigade  one  hundred  and  six, 
of"  all  ranks,  killed  or  wounded.  Among  the  latter  the  gallant  bri 
gadier-general  himself  has  a  smart  wound  in  the  arm,  but  not  dis 
abled,  and  Major  R.  Farqueson,  2d  Tennessee ;  Captain  H.  F. 
Murray,  2d  Lieutenant  G.  T.  Sutherland,  1st  Lieutenant  W.  P. 
Hale,  (adjutant,)  all  of  the  same  regiment,  severely ;  and  1st  Lieu 
tenant  W.  Yearwood,  mortally  wounded.  And  I  know,  from  per 
sonal  observation  on  the  ground,  that  1st  Lieutenant  Ewell,  of  the 
rifles,  if  not  now  dead,  was  mortally  wounded,  in  entering,  sword 
in  hand,  the  entrenchments  around  the  captured  tower.  Second 
Lieutenant  Derby,  topographical  engineers,  I  also  saw,  at  the  same 


BATTLE    OF   SIERRA    GORDO.  33 

place,  severely  wounded ;  and  Captain  Patten,  2d  United  States' 
infantry,  lost  his  right  hand. 

"  Major  Sumner,  2d  United  States'  dragoons,  was  slightly  wound 
ed  the  day  before,  and  Captain  Johnston,  topographical  engineers — 
now  lieutenant-colonel  of  infantry — was  very  severely  wounded  some 
days  earlier,  while  reconnoitring. 

"  I  must  not  omit  to  add  that  Captain  Mason  and  2d  Lieutenant 
Davis,  both  of  the  rifles,  were  among  the^very  severely  wounded  in 
storming  the  same  tower.  I  estimate  our  total  loss,  in  killed  and 
wounded,  may  be  about  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  that  of  the  enemy 
three  hundred  and  fifty.  In  the  pursuit  towards  Jalapa,  (twenty- 
five  miles  hence,)  I  learn  we  have  added  much  to  the  enemy's  loss 
in  prisoners,  killed,  and  wounded.  In  fact,  I  suppose  his  retreating 
army  to  be  nearly  disorganized,  and  hence  my  haste  to  follow,  in  an 
hour  or  two,  to  profit  by  events. 

"  In  this  hurried  and  imperfect  report,  I  must  not  omit  to  say  that 
Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  in  passing  the  mountain  range  beyond 
Cerro  Gordo,  crowned  with  the  tower,  detached  from  his  division, 
as  I  suggested  before,  a  strong  force  to  carry  that  height,  which 
commanded  the  Jalapa  road  at  the  foot,  and  could  not  fail,  if  carried, 
to  cut  off  the  whole,  or  any  part  of  the  enemy's  forces  from  a  retreat 
in  any  direction.  A  portion  of  the  1st  artillery,  under  the  often-dis 
tinguished  Brevet  Colonel  Childs,  the  3d  infantry,  under  Captain 
Alexander,  the  7th  infantry,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Plymton,  and 
the  rifles,  under  Major  Loring,  all  under  the  temporary  command 
of  Colonel  Harney,  2d  dragoons,  during  the  confinement  to  his  bed 
of  Brevet  Brigadier-General  P.  F.  Smith,  composed  that  detach 
ment.  The  style  of  execution,  which  I  had  the  pleasure  to  witness, 
was  most  brilliant  and  decisive.  The  brigade  ascended  the  long  and 
difficult  slope  of  Sierra  Gordo,  without  shelter,  and  under  the  tre 
mendous  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry,  with  the  utmost  steadiness, 
reached  the  breastworks,  drove  the  enemy  from  them,  planted  the 
colours  of  the  1st  artillery,  3d  and  7th  infantry  —  the  enemy's  flag 
still  flying  —  and,  after  some  minutes  of  sharp  firing,  finished  the 
conquest  with  the  bayonet. 

"It  is  a  most  pleasing  duty  to  say  that  the  highest  praise  is  due 
to  Harney,  Childs,  Plymton,  Loring,  Alexander,  their  gallant  offi 
cers  and  men,  for  this  brilliant  service,  independent  of  the  great 
results  which  soon  followed. 


34  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

"  Worth's  division  of  regulars  coming  up  at  this  time,  he  detached 
Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  F.  Smith,  with  his  light  battalion,  to 
support  the  assault,  but  not  in  time.  The  general,  reaching  the 
tower  a  few  minutes  before  me,  and  observing  a  white  flag  displayed 
from  the  nearest  portion  of  the  enemy  towards  the  batteries  below, 
sent  out  Colonels  Harney  and  Childs  to  hold  a  parley.  The  sur 
render  followed  in  an  hour  or  two. 

"  Major-General  Patterson  left  a  sick  bed  to  share  in  the  dangers 
and  fatigues  of  the  day ;  and  after  the  surrender,  went  forward  to 
command  the  advanced  forces  towards  Jalapa. 

"  Brigadier-General  Pillow  and  his  brigade  twice  assaulted  with 
great  daring  the  enemy's  line  of  batteries  on  our  left ;  and  though 
without  success,  they  contributed  much  to  distract  and  dismay  their 
immediate  opponents. 

"  President  Santa  Anna,  with  Generals  Canalizo  and  Almonte, 
and  some  six  or  eight  thousand  men,  escaped  towards  Jalapa  just 
before  Sierra  Gordo  was  carried,  and  before  Twiggs'  division  reached 
the  National  Road  above. 

"  I  have  determined  to  parole  the  prisoners— officers  and  men — 
as  I  have  not  the  means  of  feeding  them  here,  beyond  to-day,  and 
cannot  afford  to  detach  a  heavy  body  of  horse  and  foot,  with  wagons, 
to  accompany  them  to  Vera  Cruz.  Our  baggage  train,  though  in 
creasing,  is  not  yet  half  large  enough  to  give  an  assured  progress  to 
this  army.  Besides,  a  greater  number  of  prisoners  would,  probably, 
escape  from  the  escort  in  the  long  and  deep  sandy  road,  without 
subsistence  —  ten  to  one  —  that  we  shall  find  again,  out  of  the  same 
body  of  men,  in  the  ranks  opposed  to  us.  Not  one  of  the  Vera 
Cruz  prisoners  is  believed  to  have  been  in  the  lines  of  Sierra  Gordo. 
Some  six  of  the  officers,  highest  in  rank,  refuse  to  give  their  paroles, 
except  to  go  to  Vera  Cruz,  and  thence,  perhaps,  to  the  United 
States. 

"  The  small  arms  and  their  accoutrements,  being  of  no  value  to 
our  army  here  or  at  home,  I  have  ordered  them  to  be  destroyed,  for 
we  have  not  the  means  of  transporting  them.  I  am  also  somewhat 

embarrassed  with  the  pieces  of  artillery — all  bronze — which 

we  have  captured.  It  will  take  a  brigade,  and  half  the  mules  of  this 
army  to  transport  them  fifty  miles.  A  field  battery  I  shall  take  for 
service  with  the  army ;  but  the  heavy  metal  must  be  collected,  and 


MARCH   FOR   THE   CAPITAL.  35 

left  here  for  the  present.  We  have  our  own  siege-train  and  the 
proper  carriages  with  us. 

"Being  much  occupied  with  the  prisoners,  and  all  the  details  of 
a  forward  movement,  besides  looking  to  the  supplies  which  are  to 
follow  from  Vera  Cruz,  I  have  time  to  add  no  more  —  intending  to 
be  at  Jalapa  early  to-morrow.  We  shall  not,  probably,  again  meet 
with  serious  opposition  this  side  of  Perote  —  certainly  not,  unless 
delayed  by  the  want  of  means  of  transportation. 

"I  invite  attention  to  the  accompanying  letter  to  President  Santa 
Anna,  taken  in  his  carriage  yesterday ;  also  to  his  proclamation, 
issued  on  hearing  that  we  had  captured  Vera  Cruz,  &c.,  in  which 
he  says : — 'If  the  enemy  advance  one  step  more,  the  national  inde 
pendence  will  be  buried  in  the  abyss  of  the  past.'  We  have  taken 
that  step. 

"  One  of  the  principal  motives  for  paroling  the  prisoners  of  war 
is,  to  diminish  the  resistances  of  otHBr  garrisons  in  our  march." 

After  the  capture  of  Puebla  by  Geheral  Worth,  [May  15th,]  the 
army  remained  there  until  the  7th  of  August,  when  it  commenced 
its  march  for  the  Mexican  capital.  An  excellent  description  of  this 
march,  and  of  the  great  battles  consequent  upon  it,  is  given  by  a 
participator. 

"  We  left  Puebla  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  and  entered  upon  a 
beautiful  rolling  country  of  great  fertility,  supplying  with  its  gar 
dens  the  inhabitants  of  Puebla  with  food,  and  surrounded  by  lofty 
mountains,  some  of  which  were  covered  with  snow.  Our  road  was 
gradually  ascending,  and  so  good  that  on  looking  back  from  the 
head  of  the  column  our  train  could  be  seen  for  miles  in  rear,  dotting 
with  its  snow-white  tops  the  maguey-covered  plain.  On  our  left 
was  Popocatapetl  and  Iscatafetl,  the  snow  on  their  not  distant  tops 
rendering  the  air  quite  chilly.  General  Scott  did  not  leave  with  us, 
but  came  on  the  next  day  with  Captain  Kearny's  dragoons. 

"The  second  day's  march  was  like  the  first,  gradually  ascending, 
passing  through  defiles,  narrow  passes,  and  over  deep  chasms,  where 
a  more  determined  enemy  might  have  seriously  annoyed  us  by 
merely  making  use  of  the  obstacles  Nature  everywhere  presented. 
Thick  woods  of  the  finest  forest-trees  were  abundant,  and  the  rugged 
nature  of  the  country  would  readily  carry  one  back  to  the  northern 
parts  of  New  England,  or  the  passes  of  the  *  Notch.'  Here  and 


36  MAJOR-GENERAL   W1NFIELD   SCOTT. 

there  beautiful  little  lakes  were  interspersed  in  the  deep  valleys, 
and  the  clearness  and  coldness  of  their  waters  were  almost  incredible. 

"  The  third  day  we  were  to  encounter  the  much-vaunted  pass  of 
*  Rio  FrioJ  and  also  the  passage  of  the  mountain  which  was  to  lead 
us  to  the  El  Dorado  of  our  hopes,  the  great  plain  of  Mexico.  Our 
march  was  to  be  long  and  difficult,  and  three  o'clock  saw  us  under 
way,  with  heart  and  hopes  full  of  the  prospect  before  us.  The 
dreaded  defile  is  reached  and  passed.  The  mountains  which  skirt 
the  road  on  the  left  here  close  upon  it  for  about  a  mile,  over 
hanging  and  enfilading  it  completely,  and  affording  with  their  crests 
most  excellent  coverings  for  an  enemy's  marksmen.  The  newly- 
cut  trees  and  long  range  of  breastworks  thrown  up  on  the  crest, 
showed  us  that  preparations  had  been  made,  while  numerous  para 
pets  with  embrasures  in  the  logs,  taught  us  what  might  have  been 
done.  But  no  men  were  there ;  the  muskets  and  cannon  were 
gone.  Valencia,  with  six  thousand  Mexicans,  was  full  a  day's 
march  ahead,  making  for  Mexico  with  a  speed  which  betrayed  home 
sickness.  Rio  Frio  was  found  to  be  a  little  stream  pouring  down 
from  the  Snow  mountain,  of  icy  coldness  and  crystal  purity.  After 
a  slight  pause  for  refreshment,  we  commenced  our  ascent  of  the 
ridge  which  separates  the  plains  of  Puebla  and  Mexico,  the  former 
of  which  it  had  hitherto  skirted.  For  several  long  miles  we  toiled 
up  the  hill,  only  recompensed  for  our  labour  by  what  we  hoped  to 
attain  at  last.  When  all  were  pretty  nearly  worn  out,  a  sudden 
turn  in  the  road  brought  to  our  view  a  sight  which  none  can  ever 
forget.  The  whole  vast  plain  of  Mexico  was  before  us.  The  cold 
ness  of  the  air,  which  was  most  sensibly  felt  at  this  great  height, 
our  fatigue  and  danger  were  forgotten,  and  our  eyes  were  the  only 
sense  that  thought  of  enjoyment.  Mexico,  with  its  lofty  steeples 
and  its  chequered  domes,  its  bright  reality,  and  its  former  fame,  its 
modern  splendour  and  its  ancient  magnificence,  was  before  us ; 
while  around  on  every  side  its  thousand  Jakes  seemed  like  silver 
stars  on  a  velvet  mantle. 

"  We  encamped  that  night  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  with  the 
enemy's  scouts  on  every  side  of  us.  The  next  day  we  reached 
Jlyotla,  only  fifteen  miles  from  Mexico  by  the  National  Road,  which 
we  had  hitherto  been  following.  Here  we  halted  until  Generals 
Quitman,  Pillow,  and  Worth,  with  their  divisions,  should  come  up. 
We  were  separated  from  the  city  by  the  marshes  which  surround 


DARING   RECONNOISSANCE.  37 

Lake  Tezcuco,  and  by  the  lake  itself.  The  road  is  a  causeway 
running  through  the  marsh,  and  is  commanded  by  a  steep  and  lofty 
hill  called  El  Pinnol.  This  hill  completely  enfilades  and  commands 
the  National  Road,  and  had  been  fortified  and  repaired  with  the 
greatest  care  by  Santa  Anna.  One  side  was  inaccessible  by  nature  ; 
the  rest  had  been  made  so  by  art.  Batteries,  in  all  mounting  fifty 
guns  of  different  calibres,  had  been  placed  on  its  sides,  and  a  deep 
ditch,  twenty-four  feet  wide  and  ten  deep,  filled  with  water,  had 
been  cut,  connecting  the  parts  already  surrounded  by  marshes.  On 
this  side  Santa  Anna  had  twenty-five  thousand  men  against  our 
force  of  a  little  over  nine  thousand,  all  told. 

"  On  the  22d  we  made  a  reconnoissance  of  the  work,  which  was 
pronounced  impracticable,  as  the  lives  of  five  thousand  men  would 
be  lost  before  the  ditch  could  be  crossed.  We  continued  our  search, 
and  found  another  road,  which  went  round  on  the  left,  but  when 
within  five  miles  of  the  city  were  halted  by  coming  suddenly  upon 
five  strong  batteries  on  the  hill  which  commanded  this  road,  at  a 
place  called  Mexicakingo.  We  soon  countermarched,  and  then 
saw  our  danger.  With  one  regiment,  and  three  companies  of  ca 
valry,  in  all  about  four  hundred  men,  we  saw  that  El  Pinnol  lay 
directly  between  us  and  our  camp,  distant  full  fifteen  miles.  Every 
eye  was  fixed  on  the  hill,  with  the  expectation  of  an  approaching 
column  which  should  drive  us  back  into  a  Mexican  prison,  while 
we  stepped  off  with  the  speed  and  endurance  of  four  hundred  Cap 
tain  Barclays  !  At  about  midnight  we  arrived  safely  at  camp,  and 
General  Scott  did  us  the  honour  of  calling  it  '  the  boldest  reconnois 
sance  of  the  war.'  General  Worth  was  encamped  about  five  miles 
off — that  is,  in  a  straight  line  —  across  the  Lake  Chalco,  at  a  place 
of  the  same  name,  but  about  ten  miles  by  the  road.  The  Mexicans 
had  a  foundry  in  the  mountains,  at  which  we  were  getting  some 
shells  made,  and  on  returning  from  which  Lieutenant  Schuyler  Ha 
milton  was  badly  wounded. 

"  By  means  of  his  scouts,  General  Worth  had  found  a  path  round 
the  left  of  Lake  Chalco,  which  led  us  to  the  western  gate  of  the 
city,  and  which,  up  to  that  time,  had  not  been  fortified.  On  the 
14th,  the  other  divisions  commenced  their  march,  while  we  brought 
up  the  train  and  the  rear.*  In  the  morning,  the  train  was  sent  in 
advance,  while  Smith's  brigade  acted  as  rear-guard.  It  was  com 
posed  of  the  rifles,  1st  artillery,  and  the  3d  infantry,  with  Taylor's 
4  D3 


38  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

battery.  As  the  rear-guard,  marching  slowly  along,  reached  with 
the  train,  word  came  to  General  Twiggs  that  a  force  of  about  five 
thousand  men  were  trying  to  cross  the  road  between  them  and  the 
train  in  order  to  cut  it  off.  We  were  then  passing  through  a  small 
village  which,  by  a  curious  coincidence,  was  called  Buena  Vista. 
On  our  left  were  large  fields  of  half-grown  barley,  through  which 
was  seen  advancing  in  splendid  order  the  enemy's  column.  It  was 
the  most  splendid  sight  I  had  ever  seen.  The  yellow  cloaks,  red 
caps  and  jackets  of  the  lancers,  and  the  bright  blue  and  white  uni 
forms  of  the  infantry,  were  most  beautifully  contrasted  with  the 
green  of  the  barley-field.  Our  line  of  battle  was  soon  formed,  and 
we  deployed  through  the  grain  to  turn  their  left  and  cut  them  off 
from  the  mountains.  A  few  shots,  however,  from  the  battery,  soon 
showed  them  that  they  were  observed ;  and,  countermarching  in 
haste,  they  left  their  dead  on  the  field.  Thus  ended  our  fight  of 
Buena  Vista.  That  night  we  staid  at  Chalco.  The  next  day  we 
made  a  long  and  toilsome  march  over  a  horrible  road,  through 
which,  with  the  utmost  difficulty,  we  dragged  our  wagons  by  the 
assistance  of  both  men  and  mules.  The  next  was  nearly  the  same, 
except  that  the  road  was,  if  possible,  worse  than  before,  as  the  Mexi 
cans  had  blocked  it  up  with  large  stones,  rolled  down  from  the 
neighbouring  hills.  This  night  we  encamped  at  a  most  beautiful 
olive  grove,  of  immense  size,  and  accommodating  at  once  both  divi 
sions.  In  the  town,  as  well  as  in  Chalco,  there  are  still  standing 
the  churches  of  the  Indians,  where  the  fire-worshippers  assembled 
before  Cortez  had  introduced  a  new  religion.  They  are  large  and 
sombre  edifices,  differing  but  little  from  the  churches  of  this  country, 
and,  being  near  the  city,  are  said  to  have  been  formerly  resorted  to 
by  the  ancient  kings. 

"  The  next  day  we  arrived  in  sight  of  the  rest  of  the  army,  and 
heard  the  guns  with  which  Worth  was  breaching  the  walls  of  San 
Antonio.  That  night  the  news  of  the  death  of  Captain  Thornton, 
of  the  2d  dragoons,  reached  us.  He  was  a  brave  officer  and  a  tho 
rough  gentleman,  but  was  always  unfortunate  in  his  military  career. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  we  left  the  little  village  where  we 
had  heard  this  sad  news,  and  took  the  road  to  San  Juan,  about 
seven  miles  to  the  west,  and  only  about  ten  miles  from  the  city. 
When  we  arrived  here  we  heard  the  sound  of  General  Worth's 
guns,  who  was  said  to  have  attacked  San  rfugustine,  a  village  three 


SKIRMISH   WITH   THE   ENEMY.  39 

miles  nearer  the  capital,  where  Santa  Anna  was  said  to  he  with 
twenty  thousand  men.  When  we  arrived  at  San  Juan,  the  men 
were  told  to  sling  their  blankets  across  their  shoulders,  put  their 
knapsacks  into  their  wagons,  and  to  put  two  days'  bread  and  beef 
in  their  haversacks.  When  this  order  came,  all  knew  that  the  time 
had  come.  The  officers  arranged  their  effects,  put  on  their  old  coats, 
and  filled  their  haversacks  and  flasks.  Soon  we  were  ready  for  any 
thing  but  a  thrashing.  We  here  heard  the  position  of  the  enemy, 
which  was  nearly  as  follows :  Santa  Anna,  with  twenty  thousand 
men,  was  at  San  Jlugustine  ;  Valencia,  with  ten  thousand,  was  at 
a  hill  called  Contreros,  which  commanded  another  road  parallel  to 
the  San  Augustine  road,  but  which  led  into  it  betAveen  the  city  and 
Santa  Anna.  Now,  by  cutting  a  road  across,  if  we  could  whip 
Valencia,  we  could  follow  the  road  up,  and  thus  get  in  between 
Santa  Anna  and  Mexico,  and  whip  him  too.  General  Worth,  (sup 
ported  by  General  Gluitman)  was  to  keep  Santa  Anna  in  check, 
while  Twiggs  (backed  by  Pillow)  was  to  try  and  astonish  Valencia, 
which  you  will  see  he  did  very  effectually.  Pillow,  with  some  of 
the  ten  regiments,  was  to  cut  the  road. 

"  We  left  San  Juan  about  one  o'clock,  not  particularly  desiring  a 
fight  so  late  in  the  day,  but  still  not  shunning  it  in  case  we  could 
have  a  respectable  chance.  About  two  P.  M.,  as  we  had  crawled 
to  the  top  of  a  hill,  whither  we  had  been  ourselves  pulling  Magru- 
der's  battery  and  the  mountain  howitzers,  we  suddenly  espied  Va 
lencia  fortified  on  a  hill  about  two  hundred  yards  offj  and  strongly 
reinforced  by  a  column  which  had  just  come  out  of  the  city.  We 
laid  down  close  to  avoid  drawing  their  fire,  while  the  battery  moved 
past  at  a  full  gallop.  Just  then,  General  Smith's  manly  voice  rung 
out,  'Forward  the  rifles  —  to  support  the  battery.'  On  they  went 
till  we  got  about  eight  hundred  yards  from  the  work,  when  the 
enemy  opened  upon  them  wilh  his  long  guns,  which  were  after 
wards  found  to  be  sixteen  and  eight-inch  howitzers.  The  ground 
was  the  worst  possible  for  artillery,  covered  with  rocks  large  and 
small,  prickly-pear  and  cactus,  intersected  by  ditches  filled  with 
water  and  lined  with  maguey-plant,  itself  imperviable  to  cavalry, 
and  with  patches  of  corn  which  concealed  the  enemy's  skirmishers, 
while  it  impeded  our  own  passage.  The  artillery  advanced  but 
slowly  under  a  most  tremendous  fire,  which  greatly  injured  it  before 
it  could  be  got  in  range,  and  the  thickness  of  the  undergrowth  caused 


40  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

the  skirmishers  thrown  forward  to  lose  their  relative  position,  as  well 
as  the  column.  About  four,  the  battery  got  in  position  under  a  most 
murderous  fire  of  grape,  canister,  and  round-shot.  Here  the  supe 
riority  of  the  enemy's  pieces  rendered  our  fire  nugatory.  We  could 
get  but  three  pieces  in  battery,  while  they  had  twenty-seven,  all  of 
them  three  times  the  calibre  of  ours.  For  two  hours  our  troops  stood 
the  storm  of  iron  and  lead  they  hailed  upon  them  unmoved.  At 
every  discharge  they  laid  flat  down  to  avoid  the  storm,  and  then 
sprung  up  to  serve  the  guns.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  two  of  the 
guns  were  dismounted,  and  we  badly  hurt :  thirteen  of  the  horses 
were  killed  and  disabled,  and  fifteen  of  the  cannoniers  killed  and 
wounded.  The  regiment  was  then  recalled.  The  lancers  had  been 
repelled  in  three  successive  charges.  The  3d  infantry  and  1st  artil 
lery  had  also  engaged  and  successfully  repelled  the  enemy's  skir 
misher^  without  losing  either  officers  or  men.  The  greatest  loss  had 
been  at  the  batteries.  Officers  looked  gloomy  for  the  first  day's  fight, 
but  the  brigade  was  formed,  and  General  Smith  in  person  took  com 
mand.  All  felt  revived,  and  followed  him  with  a  yell,  as,  creeping 
low  to  avoid  the  grape,  (which  was  corning  very  fast,)  we  made  a 
circuit  in  rear  of  the  batteries  ;  and,  passing  ofFto  the  right,  we  were 
soon  lost  to  view  in  the  chapparal  and  cactus. 

"  Passing  over  the  path  that  we  scrambled  through,  behold  us  at 
almost  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  tired,  hungry,  and  sorrowful, 
emerging  from  the  chaparral  and  crossing  the  road  between  it  and 
Valencia.  Here  we  found  Cadwalader  and  his  brigade  already 
formed,  and  discovered  Riley's  brigade  skirmishing  in  rear  of  the 
enemy's  works.  Valencia  was  ignorant  of  our  approach,  and  we 
were  as  yet  safe.  In  front  of  us  was  Valencia,  strongly  entrenched 
on  a  hill-side  and  surrounded  by  a  regular  field-work,  concealed  from 
us  by  an  orchard  in  our  rear.  Mendoza,  with  a  column  of  six 
thousand,  was  in  the  road,  but  thinking  us  to  be  friends.  On  our 
right  was  a  large  range  of  hills  whose  continued  crest  was  parallel 
to  the  road,  and  in  which  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  five  thousand 
of  the  best  Mexican  cavalry.  On  our  left  we  were  separated  from 
our  own  forces  by  an  almost  impassable  wilderness,  and  it  was  now 
twilight.  Even  Smith  looked  round  for  help.  Suddenly  a  thou 
sand  vivas  came  across  the  hill-side  like  the  yells  of  prairie  wolves 
in  the  dead  of  night,  and  the  squadrons  on  our  right  formed  for 
charging.  Smith  is  himself  again  !  "  Face  to  the  rear !"  "  Wait 


BATTLE   OF   CONTREROS.  41 

till  you  see  their  red  caps,  and  then  give  it  to  them  !"  Furiously 
they  came  on  a  few  yards,  then  changed  their  minds,  and,  disgusted 
at  our  cool  reception,  retired  to  their  couches. 

On  the  edge  of  the  road,  between  us  and  Valencia,  a  Mexican 
hamlet  spread  out,  with  its  mud  huts,  large  orchards,  deep-cut  roads, 
and  a  strong  church ;  and  through  the  centre  of  this  hamlet  ran  a 
path  parallel  to  the  main  road,  but  concealed  from  it ;  it  is  nearly  a 
mile  long.  In  this  road  Smith's  and  Riley's  brigade  bivouacked. 
Shields,  who  came  up  in  the  night,  lay  in  the  orchard,  while  Cad- 
walader  was  nearest  the  enemy's  works.  As  we  were  within  range 
of  their  batteries,  which  could  enfilade  the  road  in  which  we  lay, 
we  built  a  stone  breastwork  at  either  end  to  conceal  ourselves  from 
their  view  and  grape.  There  we  were,  completely  surrounded  by 
the  enemy,  cut  off  from  our  communications,  ignorant  of  the  ground, 
without  artillery,  weary,  dispirited,  and  dejected.  We  were  a  dis 
heartened  set.  With  Santa  Anna  and  Salas's  promise  of  "  no  quar 
ter,"  a  force  of  four  to  one  against  us,  and  one  half  defeated  already, 
no  succour  from  Puebla,  and  no  news  from  General  Scott,  all  seemed 
dark.  Suddenly  the  words  came  whispered  along,  "  we  storm  at 
midnight."  Now  we  are  ourselves  again !  But  what  a  horrible 
night !  There  we  lay,  too  tired  to  eat,  too  wet  to  sleep,  in  the  mid 
dle  of  that  muddy  road,  officers  and  men  side  by  side,  with  a  heavy 
rain  pouring  down  upon  us,  the  officers  without  blankets  or  over 
coats,  (they  had  lost  them  in  coming  across,)  and  the  men  worn  out 
with  fatigue.  About  midnight  the  rain  was  so  heavy  that  the 
streams  in  the  road  flooded  us,  and  there  we  stood  crowded  together, 
drenched  and  benumbed,  waiting  till  daylight. 

At  half-past  three  the  welcome  word  "fall  in"  was  passed  down, 
and  we  commenced  our  march.  The  enemy's  works  were  on  a 
hill-side,  behind  which  rose  other  and  slightly  higher  hills,  separated 
by  deep  ravines  and  gullies,  and  intersected  by  streams.  The 
whole  face  of  the  country  was  of  stiff  clay,  which  rendered  it  almost 
impossible  to  advance.  We  formed  our  line  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  enemy's  works,  Riley's  brigade  on  our  right.  At 
about  four  we  started,  winding  through  a  thick  orchard  which  effec 
tually  concealed  us,  even  had  it  not  been  dark,  debouching  into  a 
deep  ravine  which  ran  within  about  five  hundred  yards  of  the  work, 
and  which  carried  us  directly  in  rear  and  out  of  sight  of  their  batte 
ries.  At  dawn  of  day  we  reached  our  place  after  incredible  exer- 
4* 


42  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

tions,  and  got  ready  for  our  charge.  The  men  threw  off  their  wet 
blankets  and  looked  to  their  pieces,  while  the  officers  got  ready  for 
a  rush,  and  the  first  smile  that  lit  up  our  faces  for  twelve  hours  boded 
but  little  good  for  the  Mexicans.  On  the  right,  and  opposite  the 
right  of  their  work,  was  Riley's  brigade  of  the  2d  and  1st  infantry 
and  4th  artillery,  next  the  rifles,  then  the  1st  artillery  and  3d  infan 
try.  In  rear  of  our  left  was  Cadwalader's  brigade,  as  a  support, 
with  Shields's  brigade  in  rear  as  a  reserve — the  whole  division  un 
der  command  of  General  Smith,  in  the  absence  of  General  Twiggs. 
They  had  a  smooth  place  to  rush  down  on  the  enemy's  work,  with 
the  brow  of  the  hill  to  keep  under  until  the  word  was  given. 

"At  last,  just  at  daylight,  General  Smith  slowly  walking  up,  asked 
if  all  was  ready.  A  look  answered  him.  « Men  forward!'  And 
we  did  'forward.'  Springing  up  at  once,  Riley's  brigade  opened, 
when  the  crack  of  a  hundred  rifles  startled  the  Mexicans  from  their 
astonishment,  and  they  opened  their  fire.  Useless  fire  !  for  we  were 
so  close  that  they  overshot  us,  and,  before  they  could  turn  their 
pieces  on  us  we  were  on  them.  Then  such  cheers  arose  as  you 
never  heard.  The  men  rushed  forward  like  demons,  yelling  and 
firing  the  while.  The  carnage  was  frightful,  and,  though  they  fired 
sharply,  it  was  of  no  use.  The  earthen  parapet  was  cleared  in  an 
instant,  and  the  blows  of  the  stocks  could  be  plainly  heard  mingled 
with  the  yells  and  groans  around.  Just  before  the  charge  was  made, 
a  large  body  of  lancers  came  winding  up  the  road  looking  most 
splendidly  in  their  brilliant  uniforms.  They  never  got  to  the  work, 
but  turned  and  fled.  In  an  instant  all  was  one  mass  of  confusion, 
each  trying  to  be  foremost  in  the  flight.  The  road  was  literally 
blocked  up,  and,  while  many  perished  by  their  own  guns,  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  fire  on  the  mass  from  the  danger  of  killing  our 
own  men.  Some  fled  up  the  ravine  on  the  left,  or  on  the  right,  and 
many  of  these  were  slain  by  turning  their  own  guns  on  them.  To 
wards  the  city  the  rifles  and  2d  infantry  led  off  the  pursuit.  Seeing 
that  a  large  crowd  of  the  fugitives  were  jammed  up  in  a  pass  in 
the  road,  some  of  our  men  ran  through  the  cornfield,  and  by  thus 
heading  them  off  and  firing  down  upon  them,  about  thirty  men  took 
over  five  hundred  prisoners,  nearly  a  hundred  of  them  officers. 
After  disarming  the  prisoners,  as  the  pursuit  had  ceased,  we  went 
back  to  the  fort,  where  we  found  our  troops  in  full  possession,  and 
the  rout  complete. 


DEFEAT   OF   THE    ENEMY.  43 

"  We  found  that  the  enemy's  position  was  much  stronger  than 
we  had  supposed,  and  their  artillery  much  larger  and  more  abun 
dant.  Our  own  loss  was  small,  which  may  be  accounted  for  by 
their  perfect  surprise  at  our  charge,  as  to  them  we  appeared  as  if 
rising  out  of  the  earth,  so  unperceived  was  our  approach.  Our  loss 
was  one  officer  killed,  Captain  Hanson  of  the  7th  infantry,  and 
Lieutenant  Van  Buren  of  the  rifles  shot  through  the  leg,  and  about 
fifty  men  killed  and  wounded.  Their  force  consisted  of  eight  thou 
sand  men,  under  Valencia,  with  a  reserve,  which  had  not  yet  arrived, 
under  Santa  Anna.  Their  loss, as  since  ascertained,  was  as  follows: 
Killed  and  buried  since  the  fight,  seven  hundred  and  fifty ;  wound 
ed,  one  thousand,  and  fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  exclusive  of  officers, 
including  four  generals — Salas,  Mendoza,  Garcia,  and  Guadalupe — 
in  addition  to  dozens  of  colonels,  majors,  captains,  &c.  We  captured 
in  all  on  the  hill  twenty-two  pieces  of  cannon,  including  five  eight- 
inch  howitzers,  two  long  eighteens,  three  long  sixteens,  and  several 
of  twelve  and  eight  inches,  and  also  the  two  identical  six-pounders 
captured  by  the  Mexicans  at  Buena  Vista,  taken  from  Captain 
Washington's  battery  of  the  4th  artillery.  The  first  officer  who 
saw  them  happened  to  be  the  officer  of  the  4th,  selected  by  General 
Scott  to  command  the  new  battery  of  that  regiment,  Captain  Drum. 
In  addition  were  taken  immense  quantities  of  ammunition  and  mus 
kets  ;  in  fact,  the  way  was  strewed  with  muskets,  escopets,  lances, 
and  flags  for  miles.  Large  quantities  of  horses  and  mules  were  also 
captured,  though  large  numbers  were  killed. 

"  Thus  ended  the  glorious  battle  of  Contreros,  in  which  two  thou 
sand  men,  under  General  P.  F.  Smith,  completely  routed  and  de 
stroyed  an  army  of  eight  thousand  men,  under  General  Valencia, 
with  Santa  Anna  and  a  force  of  twenty  thousand  men,  within  five 
miles.  Their  army  was  so  completely  routed  that  not  fifteen  hun 
dred  men  rejoined  Santa  Anna  and  participated  in  the  second  bat 
tle.  Most  people  would  have  thought  that  a  pretty  good  day's  work. 
Not  so.  We  had  only  saved  ourselves,  not  conquered  Mexico,  and 
men's  work  was  before  us  yet. 

"At  eight  A.  M.  we  formed  again,  and  General  Twiggs  having 
taken  command,  we  started  on  the  road  to  Mexico.  We  had  hardly 
marched  a  mile  before  we  were  sharply  fired  upon  from  both  sides 
of  the  road,  and  our  right  was  deployed  to  drive  the  enemy  in.  We 
soon  found  that  we  had  caught  up  with  the  retreating  party,  from 


44  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

the  very  brisk  firing  in  front,  and  we  drove  them  through  the  little 
town  of  San  Angelo,  where  they  had  been  halting  in  force.  About 
half  a  mile  from  this  town  we  entered  the  suburbs  of  another  called 
San  Katherina,  when  a  large  party  in  the  church-yard  fired  on  the 
head  of  the  column,  and  the  balls  came  right  among  us.  Our  men 
kept  rushing  on  their  rear  and  cutting  them  down,  until  a  discharge 
of  grape-shot  from  a  large  piece  in  front  drove  them  back  to  the 
column.  In  this  short  space  of  time  five  men  were  killed,  ten  taken 
prisoners,  and  a  small  colour  captured,  which  was  carried  the  rest 
of  the  day. 

"  Meanwhile  General  Worth  had  made  a  demonstration  on  San 
Antonio,  where  the  enemy  was  fortified  in  a  strong  hacienda ;  but 
they  retired  on  his  approach  to  Churubusco,  where  the  works  were 
deemed  impregnable.  They  consisted  of  a  fortified  hacienda,  which 
was  surrounded  by  a  high  and  thick  wall  on  all  sides.  Inside  the 
wall  was  a  stone  building,  the  roof  of  which  was  flat  and  higher 
than  the  walls.  Above  all  this  was  a  stone  church,  still  higher  than 
the  rest,  and  having  a  large  steeple.  The  wall  was  pierced  with 
loop-holes,  and  so  arranged  that  there  were  two  tiers  of  men  firing 
at  the  same  time.  They  thus  had  four  different  ranges  of  men  firing 
at  once,  and  four  ranks  were  formed  on  each  range,  and  placed  at 
such  a  height  that  they  could  not  only  overlook  all  the  surrounding 
country,  but  at  the  same  time  they  had  a  plunging  fire  upon  us. 
Outside  the  hacienda,  and  completely  commanding  the  avenues  of 
approach,  was  a  field-work  extending  around  two  sides  of  the  fort, 
and  protected  by  a  deep  wet  ditch,  and  armed  with  seven  large 
pieces.  This  hacienda  is  at  the  commencement  of  the  causeway 
leading  to  the  western  gate  of  the  city,  and  had  to  be  passed  before 
getting  on  the  road.  About  three  hundred  yards  in  rear  of  this 
work  another  field-work  had  been  built  where  a  cross-road  meets 
the  causeway,  at  a  point  where  it  crosses  a  river,  thus  forming  a 
bridge  head,  or  t£te  tie  pont.  This  was  also  very  strong,  and  armed 
with  three  large  pieces  of  cannon.  The  works  were  surround 
ed  on  every  side  by  large  corn-fields,  which  were  filled  with  the 
enemy's  skirmishers,  so  that  it  was  difficult  to  make  a  reconnoissance. 
It  was  thciefore  decided  to  make  the  attack  immediately,  as  they 
were  full  of  men,  and  extended  for  nearly  a  mile  on  the  road  to  the 
city,  completely  covering  the  causeway.  The  attack  commenced 
about  Qne,  P.  M.  General  Twiggs's  division  attacked  on  the  side 


BATTLE   OF    CHURUBUSCO.  45 

towards  which  they  approached  the  fort ;  that  is,  opposite  the  city. 
General  Worth's  attacked  the  bridge  head,  which  he  took  in  about 
an  hour  and  a  half;  while  Generals  Pillow  and  Quitman  were  on 
the  extreme  left,  between  the  causeway  and  Twiggs's  division.  The 
rifles  were  on  the  left  and  in  rear  of  the  work,  intrusted  by  Gene 
ral  Scott  with  the  task  of  charging  it  in  case  General  Pierce 
gave  way.  The  firing  was  most  tremendous — in  fact,  one  continued 
roll  while  the  combat  lasted.  The  enemy,  from  their  elevated  sta 
tion,  could  readily  see  our  men,  who  were  unable  to  get  a  clear 
view  from  their  position.  Three  of  the  pieces  were  manned  by 
'the  Deserters,'  a  body  of  about  one  hundred,  who  had  deserted 
from  the  ranks  of  our  army  during  the  war.  They  were  enrolled 
in  two  companies,  commanded  by  a  deserter,  and  were  better  uni 
formed  and  disciplined  than  the  rest  of  the  army.  These  men 
fought  most  desperately,  and  are  said  not  only  to  have  shot  down 
several  of  our  officers  whom  they  knew,  but  to  have  pulled  down 
the  white  flag  of  surrender  no  less  than  three  times. 

"  The  battle  raged  most  furiously  for  about  three  hours,  when, 
both  sides  having  lost  a  great  many,  the  enemy  began  to  give  way. 
As  soon  as  they  commenced  retreating,  Kearny's  squadron  .passed 
through  the  tete  de  pont,  and,  charging  through  the  retreating  co 
lumn,  pursued  them  to  the  very  gate  of  the  city.  When  our  men  got 
within  about  five  hundred  yards  of  the  gate,  they  were  opened  upon 
with  grape  and  canister,  and  several  officers  wounded.  Amongst 
the  number  was  Captain  Kearny,  1st  dragoons,  who  lost  his  left 
arm  above  the  elbow.  Lieutenant  Graham,  of  New  York,  received 
a  severe  flesh-wound  in  his  left  arm.  Captain  McReynolds,  ditto. 
Our  loss  in  this  second  battle  was  large.  We  lost  in  killed  seven 
officers  :  Captains  Capron,  Burke,  1st  artillery  ;  Lieutenants  Irons, 
Johnston,  Hoffman,  Captain  Anderson,  Lieutenant  Easely,  2d  in 
fantry  ;  Captain  Hanson,  7th  infantry.  Lieutenant  Irons  died  on 
the  28th.  Colonel  Butler,  of  South  Carolina,  and  about  thirty 
officers  wounded,  exclusive  of  the  volunteers.  The  official  returns 
give  our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  at  one  thousand  one  hundred 
and  fifty,  besides  officers.  The  Mexican  loss  is  five  hundred  killed 
in  the  second  battle,  one  thousand  wounded,  and  eleven  hundred 
prisoners,  exclusive  of  officers.  Three  more  generals  were  taken, 
among  them  General  Rincon  and  Anaya,  the  provisional  President ; 
also,  ten  pieces  of  cannon  and  an  immense  amount  of  ammunition 


46  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

and  stores.  Santa  Anna,  in  his  report,  states  his  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing  at  twelve  thousand.  He  has  only  eighteen 
thousand  left  out  of  thirty  thousand,  which  he  gives  as  his  force  on 
the  20th  in  both  actions.  .- 

"  Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Churubusco,  one  of  the  most  furious 
and  deadly,  for  its  length,  of  any  of  the  war.  For  reasons  which 
he  deemed  conclusive,  General  Scott  did  not  enter  the  city  that 
night,  but  encamped  on  the  battle-field,  about  four  miles  from  the 
western  gate  of  the  city.  The  next  day  a  flag  of  truce  came  out, 
and  propositions  were  made  which  resulted  in  an  armistice. 

"  Meanwhile,  the  army  is  encamped  in  the  villages  around  the 
city,  recruiting  from  their  fatigue  and  nursing  the  sick  and  wounded. 
There  are  but  few  sick,  and  the  wounded  are  getting  along  com 
fortably  in  their  hospitals. 

The  New  Orleans  Delta  has  the  following  remarks  on  these 
battles : 

"Never  have  there  been  exhibited  in  one  day  so  many  individual 
instances  of  heroic  courage,  indomitable  valour,  and  determination 
in  overcoming  great  and  apparently  insurmountable  obstacles.  From 
one  end  of  the  army  to  the  other  there  prevailed  but  one  feeling  and 
one  resolve,  and  that  was  victory  or  death.  Our  officers  set  noble 
examples  to  their  men,  which  were  imitated  with  as  much  cool  de 
termination  as  they  were  set.  There  was  no  faltering,  no  holding 
back,  and  there  is  no  corps  or  command  but  acquitted  itself  with 
honour  to  themselves  and  credit  to  the  country.  The  regulars 
added  new  laurels  to  those  already  acquired,  and  the  volunteers 
have  given  a  repetition  of  the  noble  bearing  of  their  countrymen  on 
the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista.  South  Carolina  chivalry  and  the 
sons  of  the  Empire  State  have  inscribed  their  names  on  the  roll  of 
fame,  and  will  return  home  bright  ornaments  to  the  states  from 
whence  they  came. 

"The  Mexicans  also  fought  as  they  never  fought  before;  they 
strongly  resisted  us  at  every  point,  and  contested  every  inch  with 
the  strongest  determination  and  even  to  desperation.  They  knew 
that  their  capital  and  their  all  depended  upon  the  issue,  and  with 
this  knowledge  and  thus  prompted,  they  threw  themselves  into  the 
breach  as  no  person  ever  expected  they  would — and  one  of  the  best 
evidences  of  this  is  the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  on  both  sides. 

"General  Scott,  at  the  head  of  our  army  during  the  engagement, 


CESSATION    OF   HOSTILITIES.  47 

received  a  slight  wound  in  the  leg,  and,  what  is  very  remarkable, 
no  person  whatever  except  himself  was  aware  of  it  until  after  the 
battle  was  over.  A  great  deal  has  been  said  and  written  in  reference 
to  the  ability  of  General  Scott  as  a  military  man,  but  those  who  have 
not  seen  him  in  command  and  under  fire,  cannot  form  any  just  con 
ception  of  his  abilities.  His  cool  consideration  of  every  thing  around 
him  —  his  quick  perception  —  his  firm  resolves  and  immediate  exe 
cution — equal  if  they  do  not  surpass  those  of  any  of  the  great  gene 
rals  whose  deeds  have  been  made  so  conspicuous  in  history." 

After  the  works  at  Churubusco  had  been  carried  by  storm,  the 
dragoons,  under  their  valiant  leader,  Colonel  Harney,  were  ordered 
forward  to  pursue  the  retreating  foe ;  and  onward  they  went,  like 
winged  messengers  of  de-ath,  their  bright  sabres  glittering  in  the 
sunbeams,  amidst  the  huzzas  of  the  light  troops,  flushed  with  the 
victory  over  the  fort.  The  horses  seemed  to  partake  of  the  enthu 
siasm  of  their  riders,  and  dashed  forward  with  supernatural  strength, 
and  in  this  spirit  and  state  of  feeling  they  overtook  the  flying  army, 
and  continued  to  cut  them  down  to  the  very  gates  of  the  city. 

Ayotk  is  twenty  miles  from  Mexico,  on  the  main  road  from  Vera 
Cruz  to  that  capital.  About  midway  between  Ayotla  and  Mexico 
are  the  strong  fortifications  of  Penon  ;  and  others  at  another  pass 
called  Mexicalcingo.  Mexicalcingo  lies  to  the  southward  of  the 
Vera  Cruz  road,  at  the  head  of  Lake  Xochimilco.  It  is  about  six 
miles  S.  S.  E.  from  Mexico,  while  Penon  is  about  nine  miles  E.  S.  E. 
The  town  of  Chalco  is  situated  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  lake  of 
the  same  name,  three  or  four  miles  south  of  the  Vera  Cruz  road. 
The  Venta  de  Chalco,  or  village  of  Chalco,  is  immediately  on  said 
road,  two  or  three  miles  south-east  of  Ayotla.  The  route  of  the 
army  from  that  point  ran  along  the  northern  and  then  the  western 
border  of  Lake  Chalco,  between  which  and  Lake  Xochimilco  on  the 
west  there  is  only  half  a  mile  of  land.  The  road  around  the  town 
passes  entirely  to  the  southward  of  Lake  Chalco. 

Contreros,  where  the  first  battle  was  fought,  is  a  fortified  position 
between  San  Augustin  and  San  Angel.  Churubusco,  the  scene  of 
the  second  great  conflict,  is  about  two  miles  north  of  San  Angel,  and 
perhaps  four  south  of  Mexico. 

On  the  evening  of  the  20th,  General  Scott  offered  a  cessation  of 
hostilities  to  the  Mexican  authorities,  in  order  to  afford  an  opportu 
nity  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace.  This  was  accepted.  Commis- 


48  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD    SCOTT. 

sioners  were  appointed  by  Santa  Anna  to  confer  with  those  from 
the  American  army,  named  by  General  Scott.  The  following  terms 
of  a  preparatory  armistice  were  concluded  by  these  gentlemen : — 

"ART.  1.  Hostilities  shall  instantly  and  absolutely  cease  between 
the  armies  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  the  United  Mexican 
States,  within  thirty  leagues  of  the  capital  of  the  latter  states,  to 
allow  time  to  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  United  States  and 
the  commissioners  to  be  appointed  by  the  Mexican  republic  to  ne- 
gptiate. 

"  2.  The  armistice  shall  continue  as  long  as  the  commissioners 
of  the  two  governments  may  be  engaged  on  negotiations,  or  until 
the  commander  of  either  of  the  said  armies  shall  give  formal  notice 
to  the  other  of  the  cessation  of  the  armistice,  and  for  forty-eight 
hours  after  such  notice. 

"  3.  In  the  mean  time  neither  army  shall,  within  thirty  leagues  of 
the  city  of  Mexico,  commence  any  new  fortification  or  military 
work  of  offence  or  defence,  or  do  anything  to  enlarge  or  strengthen 
any  existing  work  or  fortification  of  that  character  within  the  said 
limits. 

"  4.  Neither  army  shall  be  reinforced  within  the  same.  Any  rein 
forcements  in  troops  or  munitions  of  war,  other  than  subsistence 
now  approaching  either  army,  shall  be  stopped  at  the  distance  of 
twenty-eight  leagues  from  the  city  of  Mexico. 

"  5.  Neither  army  or  any  detachment  from  it,  shall  advance  be 
yond  the  line  it  at  present  occupies. 

"6.  Neither  army,  nor  any  detachment  or  individual  of  either, 
shall  pass  the  neutral  limits  established  by  the  last  article,  except 
under  a  flag  of  truce  bearing  the  correspondence  between  the  two 
armies,  or  on  the  business  authorized  by  the  next  article,  and  indi 
viduals  of  either  army  who  may  chance  to  straggle  within  the  neu 
tral  limits  shall,  by  the  opposite  party,  be  kindly  warned  off  or  sent 
back  to  their  own  armies  under  flags  of  truce. 

"7.  The  American  army  shall  not  by  violence  obstruct  the  pasr- 
sage,  from  the  open  country  into  the  city  of  Mexico,  of  the  ordinary 
supplies  of  food  necessary  to  the  consumption  of  its  inhabitants  or 
the  Mexican  army  within  the  city ;  nor  shall  the  Mexican  authori 
ties,  civil  or  military,  do  any  act  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  supplies 
from  the  city  or  the  country  needed  by  the  American  army. 

"8.  All  American  prisoners  of  war  remaining  in  the  hands  of  the 


TERMS   OF   THE   ARMISTICE.  49 

Mexican  army,  and  not  heretofore  exchanged,  shall  immediately,  or 
as  soon  as  practicable,  be  restored  to  the  American  army,  against  a 
like  number,  having  regard  to  rank,  of  Mexican  prisoners  captured 
by  the  American  army. 

"  9.  All  American  citizens  who  were  established  in  the  city  of 
Mexico  prior  to  the  existing  war,  and  who  have  since  been  expelled 
from  that  city,  shall  be  allowed  to  return  to  their  respective  business 
or  families  therein,  without  delay  or  molestation. 

"  10.  The  better  to  enable  the  belligerent  armies  to  execute  these 
articles,  and  to  favour  the  great  object  of  peace,  it  is  further  agreed 
between  the  parties,  that  any  courier  with  despatches  that  either 
army  shall  desire  to  send  along  the  line  from  the  city  of  Mexico  or 
its  vicinity,  to  and  from  Vera  Cruz,  shall  receive  a  safe  conduct  from 
the  commander  of  the  opposing  army. 

"  11.  The  administration  of  justice  between  Mexicans,  according 
to  the  general  and  state  constitutions  and  laws,  by  the  local  authori 
ties  of  the  towns  and  places  occupied  by  the  American  forces,  shall 
not  be  obstructed  in  any  manner. 

"  12.  Persons  and  property  shall  be  respected  in  the  towns  and 
places  occupied  by  the  American  forces.  No  person  shall  be  mo 
lested  in  the  exercise  of  his  profession ;  nor  shall  the  services  of  any 
one  be  required  without  his  consent.  In  all  cases  where  services 
are  voluntarily  rendered  a  just  price  shall  be  paid,  and  trade  remain 
unmolested. 

"  13.  Those  wounded  prisoners  who  may  desire  to  remove  to 
some  more  convenient  place,  for  the  purpose  of  being  cured  of  their 
wounds,  shall  be  allowed  to  do  so  without  molestation,  they  still  re 
maining  prisoners. 

"  14.  The  Mexican  medical  officers  who  may  wish  to  attend  the 
wounded  shall  have  the  privilege  of  doing  so  if  their  services  be 
required. 

"  15.  For  the  more  perfect  execution  of  this  agreement,  two  com 
missioners  shall  be  appointed,  one  by  each  party,  who  in  case  of 
disagreement  shall  appoint  a  third. 

"  16.  This  convention  shall  have  no  force  or  effect  unless  approved 
by  their  Excellencies,  the  commanders  respectively  of  the  two 
armies,  within  twenty-four  hours,  reckoning  from  the  6th  hour  of 
the  23d  day  of  August,  1847." 

These  articles  were  signed  by  Generals  duitman,  P.  F.  Smith, 
5 


50  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

and  Franklin  Pierce,  on  the  part  of  the  Americans ;  and  Ignacio  de- 
Maria  y  Villamil  and  Benito  Gluijano  on  that  of  the  Mexicans.  After 
wards  the  following  notes  were  appended  : — 

"  Considered,  approved,  and  ratified,  with  the  express  understand 
ing  that  the  word  '  supplies?  as  used  the  second  time,  without  quali 
fication  in  the  seventh  article  of  this  military  convention — American 
copy — shall  be  taken  to  mean  (as  in  both  the  British  and  American 
armies)  arms,  munitions,  clothing,  equipments,  subsistence  (for  men,) 
forage,  and  in  general,  all  the  wants  of  an  army.  That  word  'sup 
plies'  in  the  Mexican  copy,  is  erroneously  translated  '  viveres'  instead 
of  *  recursos.' " 

This  was  signed  by  General  Scott.  Santa  Anna  replied  as  fol 
lows  : — 

"  Ratified,  suppressing  the  ninth  article,  and  explaining  the  fourth, 
to  the  effect  that  the  temporary  peace  of  this  armistice  shall  be 
observed  in  the  capital,  and  twenty-eight  leagues  around  it;  and 
agreeing  that  the  word  supplies  shall  be  translated  recursos ;  and 
that  it  comprehends  every  thing  which  the  army  may  need,  ex 
cept  arms  and  ammunitions." 

This  qualification  was  accepted  and  ratified  by  the  American 
general. 

Hopes  were  now  entertained  by  General  Scott  and  the  friends  of 
peace  in  both  nations,  that  the  long-protracted  struggle  was  about  to 
be  amicably  adjusted.  These,  however,  were  disappointed.  Mr. 
Trist,  the  American  envoy,  demanded  the  cession  of  California  and 
the  territory  between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande  rivers,  while  the 
Mexicans  refused  to  yield  any  portion  of  Texas.  The  negotiations 
accordingly  closed. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  General  Scott  accused  Santa  Anna  of 
violating  the  armistice,  by  constructing  fortifications  within  the  capi 
tal.  The  Mexican  general  replied  by  laying  a  similar  charge  to  the 
Americans,  and  affirming  his  willingness  to  recommence  hostilities 
immediately.  The  subsequent  operations  are  given  in  General 
Scott's  report,  which  we  annex,  omitting  the  details  of  General 
Worth's  operations,  which  have  already  been  given. 

"Negotiations  were  actively  continued  with,  as  was  understood 
some  prospect  of  a  successful  result  up  to  the  2d  instant,  when  our 
commissioner  handed  in  his  ultimatum  (on  boundaries),  and  the  ne 
gotiators  adjourned  to  meet  again  on  the  6th. 


INFRACTIONS   OF   THE   TRUCE.  51 

"  Some  infractions  of  the  truce,  in  respect  to  our  supplies  from 
the  city,  were  earlier  committed,  followed  by  apologies,  on  the  part 
of  the  enemy.  Those  vexations  I  was  willing  to  put  down,  to  the 
imbecility  of  the  government,  and  wraived  pointed  demands  of  repa 
ration  while  any  hope  remained  of  a  satisfactory  termination  of  the 
war.  But  on  the  5th,  and  more  fully  on  the  6th,  I  learned  that  as 
soon  as  the  ultimatum  had  been  considered  in  a  grand  council  of 
ministers  and  others,  President  Santa  Anna,  on  the  4th  or  5th,  with 
out  giving  me  the  slightest  notice,  actively  recommenced  strengthen 
ing  the  military  defences  of  the  city,  in  gross  violation  of  the  3d 
article  of  the  armistice. 

"  On  that  information,  which  has  since  received  the  fullest  verifi 
cation,  I  addressed  to  him  my  note  of  the  6th.  His  reply,  dated  the 
same  day,  received  the  next  morning,  was  absolutely  and  notoriously 
false,  both  in  recrimination  and  explanation.  *  * 

"  Being  delayed  by  the  terms  of  the  armistice  more  than  two 
weeks,  we  had  now,  late  on  the  7th,  to  begin  to  reconnoitre  the  dif 
ferent  approaches  to  the  city,  within  our  reach,  before  I  could  lay 
down  any  definitive  plan  of  attack. 

"  The  same  afternoon,  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  was  discovered 
hovering  about  the  Molinos  del  Rey,  within  a  mile  and  a  third  of 
this  village,  (Tacubaya,)  where  I  am  quartered  with  the  general 
staff  and  Worth's  division. 

"  It  might  have  been  supposed  that  an  attack  upon  us  was  in 
tended  ;  but  knowing  the  great  value  to  the  enemy  of  those  mills, 
(Molinos  del  Rey,)  containing  a  cannon-foundry,  with  a  large  depo 
sit  of  powder  in  Casa  Mata  near  them  ;  and  having  heard,  two  days 
before,  that  many  church-bells  had  been  sent  out  to  be  cast  into  guns 
— the  enemy's  movement  was  easily  understood,  and  I  resolved  at 
once  to  drive  him  early  the  next  morning,  to  seize  the  powder,  and 
to  destroy  the  foundry. 

"Another  motive  for  this  decision  —  leaving  the  general  plan  of 
attack  upon  the  city  for  full  reconnoissances — was,  that  we  knew  our 
recent  captures  had  left  the  enemy  not  a  fourth  of  the  guns  neces 
sary  to  arm,  all  at  the  same  time,  the  strong  works  of  each  of  the 
eight  city  gates ;  and  we  could  not  cut  the  communication  between 
the  foundry  and  the  capital  without  first  taking  the  formidable  castle 
on  the  heights  of  Chapultepec,  which  overlooked  both  and  stood  be 
tween. 


52  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

"For  this  difficult  operation  we  were  not  entirely  ready,  and 
moreover  we  might  altogether  neglect  the  castle,  if,  as  we  then 
hoped,  our  reconnoissances  should  prove  that  the  distant  southern 
approaches  to  the  city  were  more  eligible  than  this  south-western 
approach. 

"  Hence  the  decision  promptly  taken,  the  execution  of  which  was 
assigned  to  Brevet  Major-General  Worth,  whose  division  was  rein 
forced  with  Cadwalader's  brigade  of  Pillow's  division,  three  squad 
rons  of  dragoons  under  Major  Sumner,  and  some  heavy  guns  of  the 
siege  train  under  Captain  Huger  of  the  ordnance,  and  Captain  Drum 

of  the  4th  artillery — two  officers  of  the  highest  merit. 

******** 

"  The  enemy  having  several  times  reinforced  his  line,  and  the  ac 
tion  soon  becoming  much  more  general  than  I  had  expected,  I  called 
up,  from  the  distance  of  three  miles,  first  Major-General  Pillow,  with 
his  remaining  brigade,  (Pierce's,)  and  next  Riley's  brigade,  of 
Twiggs'  division  —  leaving  his  other  brigade  (Smith's)  in  observa 
tion  at  San  Angel.  Those  corps  approached  with  zeal  and  rapidity; 
but  the  battle  was  won  just  as  Brigadier-General  Pierce  reached  the 
ground,  and  had  interposed  his  corps  between  Garland's  brigade 
(Worth's  division)  and  the  retreating  enemy." 

Like  General  Taylor,  after  the  capture  of  Monterey,  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  was  destined  to  experience  considerable  opposition, 
respecting  his  offer  of  the  armistice.  In  reference  to  this  opposition, 
the  New  Orleans  Delta  has  the  following  pertinent  remarks : — 

"  The  sophist  who  lectured  Hannibal  on  the  art  of  war  doubtless 
considered  himself  a  supremely  wise  man,  and  the  conqueror  of 
Scipio  but  an  indifferent  general.  The  race  to  which  he  belonged 
has  not  passed  away,  but  flourishes  in  these  latter  days  in  all  the 
vigour  and  bloom  of  its  youth.  The  present  war  has  furnished 
ample  employment  to  these  military  philosophers,  and  has  enabled 
them  at  the  same  time  to  display  the  extent  of  their  knowledge  and 
bless  mankind  with  a  sun-flood  of  information.  Among  the  subjects 
to  which  they  have  recently  directed  their  powerful  intellects,  and 
upon  which  they  have  expended  columns  of  acute  disquisition  and 
pathetic  declamation,  none  has  afforded  a  fairer  field  for  their  pecu 
liar  powers  than  the  armistice  granted  by  General  Scott  after  the 
battles  of  Contreros  and  Churubusco.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  in 
the  opinion  of  these  sages  the  general  was  totally  in  the  wrong  ;  his 


OPINIONS    RESPECTING   THE    ARMISTICE.  53 

conduct  was  not  only  foolish,  but,  in  view  of  the  consequences  which 
they  ascribe  to  it,  criminal.  To  him  they  impute  the  delay  in  cap 
turing  the  city,  the  failure  of  the  negotiations,  and  the  subsequent 
loss  of  life  in  the  combats  that  ensued  from  the  8th  to  the  14th  of 
September.  Bowing,  as  we  do,  with  becoming  deference  to  opi 
nions  so  carefully  formed,  and  so  fearlessly  promulgated,  we  yet  beg 
leave  to  suggest,  that  before  General  Scott  is  finally  condemned,  it 
would  be  as  well  to  wait  for  further  information ;  and,  before  he  is 
even  arraigned  at  the  bar  of  public  opinion  for  an  alleged  offence, 
it  would  be  no  more  than  fair  to  examine  closely  the  information 
which  we  already  possess. 

"  In  the  advance  upon  Mexico,  the  '  first  line  of  defence'  of  the 
city,  consisting  of  the  strong  posts  of  El  Penon  and  Mexicalcingo, 
was  avoided  by  a  detour  to  the  left,  around  the  head  of  Lake  Chalco. 
This  movement  began  on  the  15th  of  August,  and.  owing  to  the 
broken  nature  of  the  country  and  the  necessity  of  cutting  a  road  for 
many  miles,  it  was  a  work  of  great  toil  and  hardship.  It  was,  how 
ever,  accomplished  in  two  days,  and  on  the  18th  our  troops  were  in 
a  position  to  act  against  Contreros  and  Churubusco,  forming  with 
the  secondary  works  in  their  neighbourhood  '  the  second  line  of  de 
fence.'  On  the  19th,  the  movement  was  made  against  Contreros. 
Of  the  prolonged  and  difficult  operations  of  that  day,  through  dense 
chapparal,  along  rocky  and  precipitous  paths,  and  amid  constant 
combat  and  peril,  it  is  not  necessary  to  speak,  for  all  will  recollect 
the  truthful  descriptions  which  we  have  already  published.  To  this 
day  of  toil  and  danger  succeeded  one  of  the  most  dismal  nights  ex 
perienced  in  that  climate.  The  storm  is  described  as  terrific.  The 
soldiers  might  perchance  have  snatched  a  rnorsel  of  food,  but  a  mo 
ment's  sleep  was  impossible.  Under  these  circumstances,  Contreros 
was  captured  and  Valencia's  force  dispersed  early  in  the  morning, 
and  the  battle  of  Churubusco  closed,  and  the  second  line  of  defence 
was  carried  after  the  most  desperate  and  bloody  engagement  of  the 
war  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Now  the  first  question  that 
arises  is,  could  General  Scott  have  entered  Mexico  on  the  night  of 
the  20th  ?  .  His  soldiers  had  been  watching,  marching,  fasting,  and 
fighting  for  more  than  thirty-six  hours ;  over  a  thousand  of  his 
small  force  were  killed  or  disabled,  and  the  heights  of  Chapultepec 
and  the  line  of  the  gar  it  as  were  still  before  him,  capable,  as  was 
afterwards  shown,  of  making  a  strong  defence.  How  easy  soever 
5* 


54  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

the  achievement  may  seem  to  an  editor  in  his  closet,  we  apprehend 
that  it  was  a  labour  not  to  be  undertaken  by  a  general  in  the  field. 
The  Mexican  army  which  defended  Churubusco,  though  defeated, 
was  not  destroyed  ;  it  retreated  towards  the  third  and  strongest  line 
of  defence,  and  was,  or  could  easily  have  been,  rallied  behind  its 
batteries.  For  General  Scott  to  have  attempted  to  enter  Mexico  on 
the  night  of  the  30th  of  August,  it  appears  to  us  would  have  been 
an  act  of  desperation  which  nothing  could  have  justified  but  the  ex 
ceedingly  improbable  result  of  success.  Had  he  undertaken  it  and 
failed,  the  warriors  of  the  quill  would  have  been  the  first  to  discover 
and  expose  the  madness  of  the  act.  They  would  have  inquired 
why  he  could  not  have  waited  until  morning ;  why,  with  half-fam 
ished  and  exhausted  troops,  with  the  wounded  calling  for  assistance, 
the  dead  unburied,  and  the  living  scarce  able  to  drag  one  leg  after 
the  other,  he  had  marched  against  strong  works  and  a  densely  popu 
lated  city,  when  one  night's  rest  would  have  quadrupled  the  effi 
ciency  of  his  force  ?  And  the  voice  of  censure  would  have  been 
as  general  as  it  would  probably  have  been  deserved. 

"  The  conclusion  has  thus  been  forced  upon  us,  that  General 
Scott  was  obliged  to  pause  for  breath  after  the  continued  operations 
of  the  19th  and  20th,  which  terminated  in  the  terrible  slaughter  of 
Churubusco. 

"But  that  same  evening  he  received  a  flag  of  truce  from  the 
enemy,  asking  for  an  armistice  and  proposing  peace.  Representa 
tions  were  at  the  same  time  made  to  him  by  those  connected  with 
the  British  Embassy,  that  there  was  every  probability  that  negotia 
tions  would  terminate  favourably  and  honourably  to  all  parties.  Tho 
American  commander  was  placed  in  a  position  of  great  delicacy 
and  responsibility.  It  was  his  ardent  desire  to  terminate  the  war, 
spare  the  lives  of  his  soldiers,  and  avoid  the  infliction  of  unneces 
sary  injury,  even  upon  the  foe.  He  had  good  reason  to  believe  that 
by  granting  the  armistice  all  these  objects  would  be  attained  ;  and 
he  did  grant  it,  making  it  terminable  in  forty-eight  hours.  What 
would  have  been  said  of  him  had  he  refused  ?  He  must,  in  that 
case,  either  have  taken  the  city  or  failed  in  the  attempt.  If  the 
former,  we  would  have  been  precisely  in  the  condition  in  which  we 
are  at  present,  and  General  Scott  would  have  been  accused  of  sac- 
rjficing  the  lives  of  his  countrymen,  and  unnecessarily  prolonging 
the  war,  to  promote  his  own  ambitious  aims,  and  gratify  the  perni- 


MERITS    OF   THE    NEGOTIATIONS.  55 

clous  vanity  of  claiming  the  conqueror's  rank  with  Cortez.  Not 
one  in  fifty  of  those  who  have  now  discovered  that  all  negotiation 
with  Mexico  was  an  idle  farce,  but  would  have  been  certain  that, 
had  the  Mexican  proposition  been  entertained,  we  should  have  had 
an  honourable  and  permanent  peace.  But  in  the  hazards  of  war 
General  Scott  might  have  been  repulsed  on  the  morning  of  the  21st, 
and  then  imagination  can  scarcely  depict  the  execrations  which 
would  have  been  poured  upon  his  head.  Whatever  he  might  have 
done,  it  will  thus  be  seen,  he  would  have  exposed  himself  to  ani 
madversion  and  misconstruction ;  to  the  idle  comments  of  the  un 
thinking,  and  the  malicious  remarks  of  the  envious.  For  our  own 
part,  we  are  willing  to  believe  that  General  Scott  acted  as  every 
hero  and  patriot  would  have  done,  placed  in  his  position,  and  bur 
dened  with  his  responsibilities  ;  at  any  rate,  we  must  see  something 
stronger  than  has  yet  appeared  against  him,  to  suspect  that  he  acted 
with  want  of  judgment  or  want  of  zeal." 

The  following  remarks  upon  the  merits  of  the  negotiations,  and 
their  final  result,  will  also  be  read  with  interest: — 

"  The  abortive  negotiations  which  preceded  the  renewal  of  the 
war,  are  in  a  high  degree  instructive,  as  indicating  more  conclusively 
than  any  other  evidence  could  do,  the  intentions  and  confidence  of 
the  respective  parties.  On  the  side  of  the  United  States  it  was 
proposed  that  the  boundary-line  of  the  two  republics  should  run  up  the 
middle  of  the  Rio  Grande,  strike  off  westward  on  reaching  the  limits  of 
New  Mexico,  take  the  course  of  the  Gila  and  the  lower  Colorado,  and 
•>o  through  the  mouth  of  the  latter  river  down  the  middle  of  the  Cali- 
fornian  Gulf,  into  the  Pacific.  In  other  words,  this  would  bring  the 
south-western  boundary-line  of  the  United  States  about  ten  degrees 
further  south,  would  deprive  Mexico  of  all  Upper  and  Lower  Cali 
fornia,  as  well  as  of  the  districts  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  would 
leave  her  wiih  the  Gila  for  her  northern  boundary,  but  just  above 
the  present  frontier  of  Sonora,  which  marks  her  settled  territories. 
Enormous  as  was  this  claim,  it  was  not  the  point  upon  which  the 
negotiations  broke  off,  for  the  Americans  phrased  their  requirements 
considerately,  and  offered  a  liberal  price  for  the  cession  they  desired. 
Santa  Anna,  it  is  true,  was  for  reserving  a  certain  portion  of  Cali 
fornia,  for  Mexican  expansion,  and  he  suggested  the  37th  in  place 
of  the  32d  parallel,  as  the  boundary  of  the  two  countries.  Yet  it 
is  hardly  disguised  that  on  the  point  of  cession  and  sale  in  this 

F 


56  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

quarter,  the  Mexican  commissioners  were  amenable  to  the  reasons 
which  Mr.  Polk  brought,  by  millions,  against  them,  and  the  tranfer 
might  have  been  completed  but  for  a  comparatively  insignificant 
slice  of  debateable  land.  The  old  Texan  boundary-line  was  again 
brought  under  discussion,  the  one  party  insisting  on  the  Rio  Grande, 
and  the  other,  as  in  honour  bound,  upon  the  Nueces;  and  this  little 
difference  proved  incapable  of  adjustment  between  parties  who  had 
just  been  judiciously  chaffering  about  ten  degrees  of  territory  !  It 
is  thus  clear,  that  from  the  great  object  which  has  been  so  unhap 
pily  sought  by  a  war,  the  Americans  are  now  only  separated  by  an 
obstacle  which  that  very  war  has  raised.  We  have  before  expressed 
our  persuasion  that,  looking  at  the  natural  destinies  and  necessities 
of  men  and  states,  the  vast  province  of  New  California  would 
much  more  reasonably  fall  to  the  lot  of  an  expansive  and  enter 
prising  people,  who  might  reclaim  its  wastes  and  colonize  its 
shores,  than  remain  the  nominal  and  desolate,  appanage  of  a  sta 
tionary  or  retrogading  race,  which  could  never  have  either  the 
motives  or  the  means  to  improve  its  advantages  for  commerce,  or 
explore  the  resources  of  its  soil" 

At  the  risk  of  some  subsequent  repetition  we  insert  the  admirable 
report  of  General  Scott,  concerning  his  operations  after  the  battle  of 
Molino  del  Rey.  Its  details  are  more  circumstantial  and  satisfactory 
than  any  account  that  has  yet  appeared : — 

"  At  the  end  of  another  series  of  arduous  and  brilliant  operations, 
of  more  than  forty-eight  hours'  continuance,  this  glorious  army 
hoisted,  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  the  colours  of  the  United  States 
on  the  walls  of  this  palace. 

"  The  victory  of  the  8th,  at  the  Molinos  del  Rey,  was  followed  by 
daring  reconnoissances  on  the  part  of  our  distinguished  engineers — 
Captain  Lee,  Lieutenants  Beauregard,  Stevens,  and  Tower — Major 
Smith,  senior,  being  sick,  and  Captain  Mason,  third  in  rank,  wound 
ed.  Their  operations  were  directed  principally  to  the  south  —  to 
wards  the  gates  of  the  Piedad,  San  Angel,  (Nino  Perdido,)  San 
Antonio,  and  the  Paseo  de  la  Viga. 

"  This  city  stands  on  a  slight  swell  of  ground,  near  the  centre  of 
an  irregular  basin,  and  is  girdled  with  a  ditch  in  its  greater  extent — 
a  navigable  canal  of  great  breadth  and  depth — very  difficult  to  bridge 
in  the  presence  of  an  enemy,  and  serving  at  once  for  drainage,  cus 
tom-house  purposes,  and  military  defence  ;  leaving  eight  entrances 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  ATTACK.        57 

or  gates,  over  arches — -each  of  which  we  found  defended  by  a  sys 
tem  of  strong  works,  that  seemed  to  require  nothing  but  some  men 
and  guns  to  be  impregnable. 

"  Outside  and  within  the  cross-fires  of  those  gates,  we  found  to 
the  south  other  obstacles  but  little  less  formidable.  All  the  approaches 
near  the  city  are  over  elevated  causeways,  cut  in  many  places  (to 
oppose  us)  and  flanked,  on  both  sides,  by  ditches,  also  of  unusual 
dimensions.  The  numerous  cross-roads  are  flanked,  in  like  manner, 
having  bridges  at  the  intersections,  recently  broken.  The  meadows 
thus  checkered,  are,  moreover,  in  many  spots,  under  water  or 
marshy ;  for,  it  will  be  remembered,  we  were  in  the  midst  of  the 
wet  season,  though  with  less  rain  than  usual,  and  we  could  not  wait 
for  the  fall  of  the  neighbouring  lakes  and  the  consequent  drainage 
of  the  wet  grounds  at  the  edge  of  the  city — the  lowest  in  the  whole 
basin. 

"  After  a  close  personal  survey  of  the  southern  gates,  covered  by 
Pillow's  division  and  Riley's  brigade  of  Twiggs' —  with  four  times 
our  numbers  concentrated  in  our  immediate  front — I  determined,  on 
the  llth,  to  avoid  that  net-work  of  obstacles,  and  to  seek,  by  a  sudden 
inversion,  to  the  south-west  and  west,  less  unfavourable  approaches. 

"To  economize  the  lives  of  our  gallant  officers  and  men,  as  well 
as  to  insure  success,  it  became  indispensable  that  this  resolution 
should  be  long  masked  from  the  enemy  ;  and,  again,  that  the  new 
movement,  when  discovered,  should  be  mistaken  for  a  feint,  and  the 
old  as  indicating  our  true  and  ultimate  point  of  attack. 

"  Accordingly,  on  the  spot,  the  llth,  I  ordered  Quitman's  division 
from  Coyoacan,  to  join  Pillow  by  daylight,  before  the  southern  gates, 
and  then  that  the  two  major-generals,  with  their  divisions,  should, 
by  night,  proceed  (two  miles)  to  join  me  at  Tacubaya,  where  I  was 
quartered  with  Worth's  division.  Twiggs,  with  Riley's  brigade, 
and  Captains  Taylor's  and  Steptoe's  field-batteries  —  the  latter  of 
twelve-pounders  —  was  left  in  front  of  those  gates,  to  manoeuvre,  to 
threaten,  or  to  make  false  attacks,  in  order  to  occupy  and  deceive 
the,  enemy.  Twiggs'  other  brigade  (Smith's)  was  left  at  supporting 
distance,  in  the  rear,  at  San  Angel,  till  the  morning  of  the  13th,  and 
also  to  support  our  general  depot  at  Miscoac.  The  stratagem  against 
the  south  was  admirably  executed  throughout  the  12th  and  down  to 
the  afternoon  of  the  13th,  when  it  was  too  late  for  the  enemy  to  re 
cover  from  the  effects  of  his  delusion. 


58  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

"  The  first  step  in  the  new  movement  was  to  carry  Chapultepec, 
a  natural  and  isolated  mound  of  great  elevation,  strongly  fortified  at 
its  base,  on  its  acclivities  and  heights.  Besides  a  numerous  garrison, 
there  was  the  military  college  of  the  republic,  with  a  large  number 
of  sub-lieutenants  and  other  students.  Those  works  were  within 
direct  gun-shot  of  the  village  of  Tacubaya ;  and,  until  carried,  we 
could  not  approach  the  city  on  the  west,  without  making  a  circuit 
too  wide  and  too  hazardous. 

"In  the  course  of  the  same  night,  (that  of  the  llth,)  heavy  bat 
teries,  within  easy  ranges,  were  established.  No.  1,  on  our  right, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Drum,  4th  artillery,  (relieved  late 
next  day,  for  some  hours,  by  Lieutenant  Andrews  of  the  3d,)  and 
No.  2,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Hagner,  ordnance — both  support 
ed  by  duitman's  division.  Nos.  3  and  4,  on  the  opposite  side,  sup 
ported  by  Pillow's  division,  were  commanded,  the  former  by  Captain 
Brooks  and  Lieutenant  S.  S.  Anderson,  2d  artillery,  alternately,  and 
the  latter  by  Lieutenant  Stone,  ordnance.  The  batteries  were  traced 
by  Captain  Huger  and  Captain  Lee,  engineers,  and  constructed  by 
them,  with  the  able  assistance  of  the  young  officers  of  those  corps 
and  the  artillery. 

"  To  prepare  for  an  assault,  it  was  foreseen  that  the  play  of  the 
batteries  might  run  into  the  second  day ;  but  recent  captures  had 
not  only  trebled  our  siege  pieces,  but  also  our  ammunition ;  and  we 
knew  that  we  should  greatly  augment  both,  by  carrying  the  place. 
I  was,  therefore,  in  no  haste  in  ordering  an  assault  before  the  works 
were  well  crippled  by  our  missiles. 

"  The  bombardment  and  cannonade,  under  the  direction  of  Cap 
tain  Huger,  were  commenced  early  in  the  morning  of  the  12th. 
Before  nightfall,  which  necessarily  stopped  our  batteries,  we  had 
perceived  that  a  good  impression  had  been  made  on  the  castle  and 
its  outworks,  and  that  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  had  remained  out 
side,  towards  the  city,  from  an  early  hour,  to  avoid  our  fire,  and  to 
be  at  hand  on  its  cessation,  in  order  to  reinforce  the  garrison  against 
an  assault.  The  same  outside  force  was  discovered  the  next  morn 
ing,  after  our  batteries  had  re-opened  upon  the  castle,  by  which  we 
again  reduced  its  garrison  to  the  minimum  needed  for  the  guns. 

"  Pillow  and  Q,uitman  had  been  in  position  since  early  in  the 
night  of  the  llth.  Major-General  Worth  was  now  ordered  to  hold 
his  division  in  reserve,  near  the  foundry,  to  support  Pillow ;  and 


STORMING   OF   CHAPULTEPEC.  59 

Brigadier-General  Smith,  of  Twiggs'  division,  had  just  arrived  with 
his  brigade  from  Piedad,  (two  miles,)  to  support  Quitman.  Twiggs' 
guns,  before  the  southern  gates,  again  reminded  us,  as  the  day  be 
fore,  that  he,  with  Riley's  brigade  and  Taylor's  and  Steptoe's  bat 
teries,  was  in  activity,  threatening  the  southern  gates,  and  there 
holding  a  great  part  of  the  Mexican  army  on  the  defensive. 

"  Worth's  division  furnished  Pillow's  attack  with  an  assaulting 
party  of  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  volunteer  officers  and  men, 
under  Captain  McKenzie,  of  the  2d  artillery ;  and  Twiggs'  division 
supplied  a  similar  one,  commanded  by  Captain  Casey,  2d  infantry, 
to  duitman.  Each  of  those  little  columns  was  furnished  with  scal 
ing  ladders. 

"  The  signal  I  had  appointed  for  the  attack  was  the  momentary 
cessation  of  fire  on  the  part  of  our  heavy  batteries.  About  eight 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  judging  that  the  time  had  ar 
rived,  by  the  effect  of  the  missiles  we  had  thrown,  I  sent  an  aid-de 
camp  to  Pillow,  and  another  to  duitman,  with  notice  that  the  con 
certed  signal  was  about  to  be  given.  Both  columns  now  advanced 
^ith  an  alacrity  that  gave  assurance  of  prompt  success.  The  bat 
teries,  seizing  opportunities,  threw  shot  and  shells  upon  the  enemy 
over  the  heads  of  our  men,  with  good  effect,  particularly  at  every 
attempt  to  reinforce  the  works  from  without  to  meet  our  assault. 

"Major-General  Pillow's  approach  on  the  west  side  lay  through 
an  open  grove,  filled  with  sharp-shooters,  who  were  speedily  dis 
lodged  ;  when,  being  up  with  the  front  of  the  attack,  and  emerging 
into  open  space,  at  the  foot  of  a  rocky  acclivity,  that  gallant  leader 
was  struck  down  by  an  agonizing  wound.  The  immediate  com 
mand  devolved  on  Brigadier-General  Cadwalader,  in  the  absence 
of  the  senior  brigadier  (Pierce)  of  the  same  division  —  an  invalid 
since  the  events  of  August  19th.  On  a  previous  call  of  Pillow, 
Worth  had  just  sent  him  a  reinforcement — Colonel  Clarke's  brigade. 

"  The  broken  acclivity  was  still  to  be  ascended,  and  a  strong  re 
doubt,  midway,  to  be  carried  before  reaching  the  castle  on  the 
heights.  The  advance  of  our  brave  men,  led  by  brave  officers, 
though  necessarily  slow,  was  unwavering,  over  rocks,  chasms,  and 
mines,  and  under  the  hottest  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry.  The 
redoubt  now  yielded  to  resistless  valour,  and  the  shouts  that  followed 
announced  to  the  castle  the  fate  that  impended.  The  enemy  were 
steadily  driven  from  shelter  to  shelter.  The  retreat  allowed  not 


60  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

time  to  fire  a  single  mine,  without  the  certainty  of  blowing  up  friend 
and  foe.  Those  who  at  a  distance  attempted  to  apply  matches  to 
the  long  trains,  were  shot  down  by  our  men.  There  was  death  be 
low  as  well  as  above  ground.  At  length  the  ditch  and  wall  of  the 
main  work  were  reached ;  the  scaling  ladders  were  brought  up  and 
planted  by  the  storming  parties ;  some  of  the  daring  spirits  first  in 
the  assault  were  cast  down  —  killed  or  wounded ;  but  a  lodgment 
was  soon  made ;  streams  of  heroes  followed ;  all  opposition  was 
overcome,  and  several  of  our  regimental  colours  flung  out  from  the 
upper  walls,  amidst  long-continued  shouts  and  cheers,  which  sent 
dismay  into  the  capital.  No  scene  could  have  been  more  animating 
or  glorious. 

"  Major-General  duitman,  nobly  supported  by  Brigadier-Gene 
rals  Shields  and  Smith,  [P.  F.]  his  other  officers  and  men,  was  up 
with  the  part  assigned  him.  Simultaneously  with  the  movement  on 
the  west,  he  had  gallantly  approached  the  south-east  of  the  same 
works  over  a  causeway  with  cuts  and  batteries,  and  defended  by  an 
army  strongly  posted  outside,  to  the  east  of  the  works.  Those  for 
midable  obstacles  Quitman  had  to  face,  with  but  little  shelter  for  his 
troops  or  space  for  manoeuvring.  Deep  ditches,  flanking  the  cause 
way,  made  it  difficult  to  cross  on  either  side  into  the  adjoining  mea 
dows,  and  these  again  were  intersected  by  other  ditches.  Smith 
and  his  brigade  had  been  early  thrown  out  to  make  a  sweep  to  the 
right,  in  order  to  present  a  front  against  the  enemy's  line,  (outside,) 
and  to  turn  two  intervening  batteries,  near  the  foot  of  Chapultepec. 
This  movement  was  also  intended  to  support  duitman's  storming 
parties,  both  on  the  causeway.  The  first  of  these,  furnished  by 
Twiggs'  division,  was  commanded  in  succession  by  Captain  Casey, 
2d  infantry,  and  Captain  Paul,  7th  infantry,  after  Casey  had  been 
severely  wounded  ;  and  the  second,  originally  under  the  gallant 
Major  Twiggs,  marine  corps,  killed,  and  then  Captain  Miller,  2d 
Pennsylvania  volunteers.  The  storming  party,  now  commanded 
by  Captain  Paul,  seconded  by  Captain  Roberts  of  the  rifles,  Lieu 
tenant  Stewart,  and  others  of  the  same  regiment,  Smith's  brigade, 
carried  the  two  batteries  in  the  road,  took  some  guns,  with  many 
prisoners,  and  drove  the  enemy  posted  behind  in  support.  The 
New  York  and  the  South  Carolina  volunteers,  (Shields'  brigade,) 
and  the  2d  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  all  on  the  left  of  Quitman's 
line,  together  with  portions  of  his  storming  parties,  crossed  the  mea- 


OFFICERS   AND   CORPS   DISTINGUISHED.  61 

dovvs  in  front,  under  a  heavy  fire,  and  entered  the  outer  enclosure 
of  Chapultepec  just  in  time  to  join  in  the  final  assault  from  the 
west. 

"  Besides  Major-Generals  Pillow  and  Gtuitman,  Brigadier-Gene 
rals  Shields,  Smith  and  Cadwalader,  the  following  are  the  officers 
"and  corps  most  distinguished  in  those  brilliant  operations :  The  vol- 
tigeur  regiment,  in  two  detachments,  commanded  respectively,  by 
Colonel  Andrews  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Johnstone  —  the  latter 
mostly  in  the  lead,  accompanied  by  Major  Caldwell,  Captains  Bar 
nard  and  Biddle,  of  the  same  regiment — the  former  the  first  to  plant 
a  regimental  colour,  and  the  latter  among  the  first  in  the  assault ;  — 
the  storming  party  of  Worth's  division,  under  Captain  McKenzie, 
2d  artillery,  with  Lieutenant  Seldon,  8th  infantry,  early  on  the  lad 
der  and  badly  wounded ;  Lieutenant  Armistead,  6th  infantry,  the 
first  to  leap  into  the  ditch  to  plant  a  ladder ;  Lieutenants  Rodgers 
of  the  4th,  and  J.  P.  Smith  of  the  5th  infantry  —  both  mortally 
wounded — the  9th  infantry,  under  Colonel  Ransom,  who  was  killed 
while  gallantly  leading  that  regiment;  the  15th  infantry  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Howard  and  Major  Woods,  with  Captain  Chase, 
whose  company  gallantly  carried  the  redoubt,  midway  up  the  ac 
clivity  ;  Colonel  Clarke's  brigade,  (Worth's  division,)  consisting  of 
the  5th,  8th,  and  part  of  the  6th  regiments  of  infantry,  commanded 
respectively  by  Captain  Chapman,  Major  Montgomery,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Edward  Johnson — the  latter  specially  noticed,  with  Lieuten 
ants  Longstreet,  (badly  wounded —  advancing  —  colours  in  hand,) 
Picket,  and  Merchant — the  last  three  of  the  8th  infantry ;  portions 
of  the  United  States'  marines,  New  York,  South  Carolina,  and  2d 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  which,  delayed  with  their  division  (Quit- 
man's)  by  the  hot  engagement  below,  arrived  just  in  time  to  parti 
cipate  in  the  assault  of  the  heights — particularly  a  detachment  under 
Lieutenant  Reid,  New  York  volunteers,  consisting  of  a  company  of 
the  same,  with  one  of  marines ;  and  another  detachment,  a  portion 
of  the  storming  party,  (Twiggs'  division,  serving  with  Gluitman,) 
under  Lieutenant  Steel,  2d  infantry  —  after  the  fall  of  Lieutenant 
Gantt,  7th  infantry. 

u  In  this  connection,  it  is  but  just  to  recall  the  decisive  effect  of  the 
heavy  batteries,  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  4,  commanded  by  those  excellent 
officers — Captain  Drum,  4th  artillery,  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Ben 
jamin  and  Porter  of  his  own  company  ;  Captain  Brooks  and  Lieu- 
6 


62  MAJOR-GENERAL   W1NFIELD   SCOTT. 

tenant  Anderson,  2d  artillery,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Russell,  4th 
infantry,  a  volunteer;  Lieutenants  Hagner  and  Stone,  of  the  ord 
nance,  and  Lieutenant  Andrews,  3d  artillery — the  whole  superin 
tended  by  Captain  Huger,  .chief  of  ordnance  with  this  army  —  an 
officer  distinguished  by  every  kind  of  merit.  The  mountain  howitzer 
battery  under  Lieutenant  Reno,  of  the  ordnance,  deserves  also  to* 
be  particularly  mentioned.  Attached  to  the  voltigeurs,  it  followed 
the  movements  of  that  regiment,  and  again  won  applause. 

"  In  adding  to  the  list  of  individuals  of  conspicuous  merit,  I  must 
limit  myself  to  a  few  of  the  many  names  which  might  be  enume 
rated  :  Captain  Hooker,  assistant  adjutant-general,  who  won  special 
applause,  successively,  in  the  staff  of  Pillow  and  Cadwalader ;  Lieu 
tenant  Lovell,  4th  artillery,  (wounded,)  chief  of  Gluitman's  staff; 
Captain  Page,  assistant  adjutant-general,  (wounded,)  and  Lieuten 
ant  Hammond,  3d  artillery,  both  of  Shields'  staff,  and  Lieutenant 
Van  Dorn,  (7th  infantry,)  aid-de-camp  to  Brigadier-General  Smith. 

"Those  operations  all  occurred  on  the  west,  south-east,  and 
heights  of  Chapultepec.  To  the  north,  and  at  the  base  of  the 
mound,  inaccessible  on  that  side,  the  llth  infantry,  under  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel  Herbert,  the  14th  under  Colonel  Trousdale,  and  Captain 
Magruder's  field  battery,  1st  artillery — one  section  advanced  under 
Lieutenant  Jackson — all  of  Pillow's  division — -had,  at  the  same  time, 
some  spirited  affairs  against  superior  numbers,  driving  the  enemy 
from  a  battery  on  the  road,  arid  capturing  a  gun.  In  these,  the 
officers  and  corps  named  gained  merited  praise.  Colonel  Trousdale, 
the  commander,  though  twice  wounded,  continued  on  duty  until  the 
heights  were  carried. 

"  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  I  repeated  the  orders  of  the 
night  before  to  Major-General  Worth,  to  be,  with  his  division,  at 
hand,  to  support  the  movement  of  Major-General  Pillow  from  our 
left.  The  latter  seems  soon  to  have  called  for  that  entire  division, 
standing,  momentarily,  in  reserve,  and  Worth  sent  him  Colonel 
Clarke's  brigade.  The  call,  if  not  unnecessary,  was,  at  least,  from 
the  circumstances,  unknown  to  me  at  the  lime ;  for,  soon  observing 
that  the  very  large  body  of  the  enemy  in  the  road  in  front  of  Major- 
General  Quitman's  right,  was  receiving  reinforcements  from  the 
city — less  than  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  east— I  sent  instructions  to 
Worth,  on  our  opposite  flank,  to  turn  Chapultepec  with  his  division, 
and  to  proceed  cautiously,  by  the  road  at  its  northern  base,  in  order, 


PURSUIT   OF   THE   ENEMY.  63 

if  not  met  by  very  superior  numbers,  to  threaten  or  to  attack, 
in  rear,  that  body  of  the  enemy.  The  movement,  it  was  also 
believed,  could  not  fail  to  distract  and  to  intimidate  the  enemy  gene 
rally. 

"  Worth  promptly  advanced  with  his  remaining  brigade — Colonel 
Garland's — Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  F.  Smith's  light  battalion,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Duncan's  field  battery — all  of  his  division — and  three 
squadrons  of  dragoons  under  Major  Sumner,  which  I  had  just  or 
dered  up  to  join  in  the  movement. 

"  Having  turned  the  forest  on  the  west,  and  arriving  opposite  to 
the  north  centre  of  Chapultepec,  Worth  came  up  with  the  troops  in 
the  road,  under  Colonel  Trousdale,  and  aided  by  a  flank  movement 
of  a  part  of  Garland's  brigade,  in  taking  the  one-gun  breastwork, 
then  under  the  fire  of  Lieutenant  Jackson's  section  of  Captain 
Magruder's  field  battery.  Continuing  to  advance,  this  division 
passed  Chapultepec,  attacking  the  right  of  the  enemy's  line,  resting 
on  that  road,  about  the  moment  of  the  general  retreat,  consequent 
upon  the  capture  of  the  formidable  castle  and  its  outworks. 

"Arriving  some  minutes  later,  and  mounting  to  the  top  of  the 
castle,  the  whole  field  to  the  east  lay  plainly  under  my  view. 

"There  are  two  routes  from  Chapultepec  to  the  capital,  the  one 
on  the  right  entering  the  same  gate,  Belen,  with  the  road  from  the 
south  via  Piedad ;  and  the  other  obliquing  to  the  left,  to  intersect 
the  great  western  or  San  Cosme  road,  in  a  suburb  outside  the  gate 
of  San  Cosme. 

"  Each  of  these  routes  (an  elevated  causeway)  presents  a  double 
roadway,  on  the  sides  of  an  aqueduct  of  strong  masonry  and  great 
height,  resting  on  open  arches  and  massive  pillars,  which  together 
afford  fine  points  both  for  attack  and  defence.  The  sideways  of 
both  aqueducts  are,  moreover,  defended  by  many  strong  breastworks, 
at  the  gates,  and  before  reaching  them.  As  we  had  expected,  we 
found  the  four  tracks  unusually  dry  and  solid  for  the  season. 

"Worth  and  Q,uitman  were  prompt  in  pursuing  the  retreating 
enemy  —  the  former  by  the  San  Cosme  aqueduct,  and  the  latter 
along  that  of  Belen.  Each  had  now  advanced  some  hundred 
yards. 

"  Deeming  it  all-important  to  profit  by  our  successes,  and  the 
consequent  dismay  of  the  enemy,  which  could  not  be  otherwise  than 
general,  I  hastened  to  despatch  from  Chapultepec  —  first  Clarke's 


64        MAJOR-GENERAL  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

brigade,  and  then  Cadwalader's,  to  the  support  of  Worth,  and  gave 
orders  that  the  necessary  heavy  guns  should  follow.  Pierce's  bri 
gade  was,  at  the  same  time,  sent  to  Q,uitman,  and,  in  the  course  of 
the  afternoon,  I  caused  some  additional  siege  pieces  to  be  added  to 
his  train.  Then,  after  designating  the  15th  infantry,  under  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Howard — Morgan,  the  colonel,  had  been  disabled  by 
a  wound  at  Churubusco  —  as  the  garrison  of  Chapultepec,  and  giv 
ing  directions  for  the  care  of  the  prisoners  of  war,  the  captured  ord 
nance  and  ordnance  stores,  I  proceeded  to  join  the  advance  of 
Worth ;  within  the  suburb,  and  beyond  the  turn  at  the  junction  of 
the  aqueduct  with  the  great  highway  from  the  west  to  the  gate  of 
San  Cosine. 

"  At  this  junction  of  roads  we  first  passed  one  of  those  formidable 
systems  of  city  defences  spoken  of  above,  and  it  had  not  a  gun !— a 
strong  proof —  1.  That  ttie  enemy  had  expected  us  to  fail  in  the 
attack  upon  Chapultepec,  even  if  we  meant  any  thing  more  than  a 
feint ;  2.  That,  in  either  case,  we  designed,  in  his  belief,  to  return 
and  double  our  forces  against  the  southern  gates  — a  delusion  kept 
up  by  the  active  demonstrations  of  Twiggs  and  the  forces  posted  on 
that  side ;  and  3.  That  advancing  rapidly  from  the  reduction  of 
Chapultepec,  the  enemy  had  not  time  to  shift  guns  —  our  previous 
captures  had  left  him,  comparatively,  but  few  —  from  the  southern 
gates. 

"Within  those  disgarnished  works  I  found  our  troops  engaged  in 
a  street-fight  against  the  enemy,  posted  in  gardens,  at  windows  and 
on  house-tops — all  flat,  with  parapets.  Worth  ordered  forward  the 
.mountain  howitzers  of  Cadwalader's  brigade,  preceded  by  skirmish 
ers  and  pioneers,  with  pick-axes  and  crow-bars,  to  force  windows 
and  doors,  or  to  burrow  through  walls.  The  assailants  were  soon 
in  an  equality  of  position  fatal  to  the  enemy.  By  eight  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  Worth  had  carried  two  batteries  in  this  suburb.  Ac 
cording  to  my  instructions,  he  here  posted  guards  and  sentinels,  and 
placed  his  troops  under  shelter  for  the  night.  There  was  but  one 
more  obstacle  —  the  San  Cosme  gate  (custom-house)  between  him 
and  the  great  square  in  front  of  the  cathedral  and  palace — the  heart 
of  the  city ;  and  that  barrier,  it  was  known,  could  not,  by  daylight, 
resist  our  siege  guns  thirty  minutes. 

"I  had  gone  back  to  the  foot  of  Chapultepec,  the  point  from 
which  the  two  aqueducts  begin  to  diverge,  some  hours  earlier,  in 


AMERICANS   ENTER   THE    CAPITAL.  65 

order  to  be  near  that  new  depot,  and  in  easy  communication  with 
Quitman  and  Twiggs  as  well  as  with  Worth. 

"  From  this  point  I  ordered  all  detachments  and  stragglers  to  their 
respective  corps,  then  in  advance ;  sent  to  Quitman  additional  siege 
guns,  ammunition,  entrenching  tools ;  directed  Twiggs'  remaining 
brigade  (Riley's)  from  Piedad,  to  support  Worth,  and  Captain  Step- 
toe's  field  battery,  also  at  Piedad,  to  rejoin  Gluitman's  division. 

"  1  had  been,  from  the  first,  well  aware  that  the  western,  or  San 
Cosme,  was  the  less  difficult  route  to  the  centre  and  conquest  of  the 
capital ;  and  therefore  intended  that  duitman  should  only  manoeuvre 
and  threaten  the  Belen  or  southwestern  gate,  in  order  to  favour  the 
main  attack  by  Worth — knowing  that  the  strong  defences  at  the 
Belen  were  directly  under  the  guns  of  the  much  stronger  fortress, 
called  the  Citadel,  just  within^  Both  of  these  defences  of  the  enemy 
were  also  within  easy  supporting  distances  from  the  San  Angel  (or 
Nino  Perdido)  and  San  Antonio  gates.  Hence  the  greater  support, 
in  numbers,  given  to  Worth's  movement  as  the  main  attack. 

"Those  views  I  repeatedly,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  communi 
cated  to  Major-Genera  1  Gluitman  ;  but,  being  in  hot  pursuit — gallant 
himself,  and  ably  supported  by  Brigadier-Generals  Shields  and 
Smith — Shields  badly  wounded  before  Chapultepec,  and  refusing  to 
retire — as  well  as  by  all  the  officers  and  men  of  the  column — Gluit- 
man  continued  to  press  forward,  under  flank  and  direct  fires — car 
ried  an  intermediate  battery  of  two  guns,  and  then  the  gate,  before 
two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  but  not  without  proportionate  loss,  in 
creased  by  his  steady  maintenance  of  that-  position. 

"Here,  of  the  heavy  battery — 4th  artillery — Captain  Drum  and 
Lieutenant  Benjamin  were  mortally  wounded,  and  Lieutenant 
Porter,  its  third  in  rank,  slightly.  The  loss  of  those  two  most  dis 
tinguished  officers  the  army  will  long  mourn.  Lieutenants  J.  B. 
Moragne  and  William  Canty,  of  the  South  Carolina  volunteers,  also 
of  high  merit,  fell  on  the  same  occasion  —  besides  many  of  our 
bravest  non-commissioned  officers  and  men — particularly  in  Cap 
tain  Drum's  veteran  company.  I  cannot,  in  this  place,  give  names 
or  numbers,  but  full  returns  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of  all  corps 
in  their  recent  operations,  will  accompany  this  report. 

"  Gluitman,  within  the  city — adding  several  new  defences  to  the 
position  he  had  won,  and  sheltering  his  corps  as  well  as  practicable 
6*  G 


66  MAJOR-GENERAL   W1NFIELD   SCOTT. 

— now  awaited  the  return  of  daylight  under  the  guns  of  the  for 
midable  citadel,  yet  to  be  subdued. 

"  At  about  four  o'clock  next  morning,  (September  14,)  a  deputa 
tion  of  the  ayuntamiento  (city  council)  waited  upon  me  to  report 
that  the  federal  government  and  the  army  of  Mexico  had  fled  from 
the  capital  some  three  hours  before,  and  to  demand  terms  of  capitu 
lation  in  favour  of  the  church,  the  citizens,  and  the  municipal  au 
thorities.  I  promptly  replied  that  I  would  sign  no  capitulation ; 
that  the  city  had  been  virtually  in  our  possession  from  the  time  of 
the  lodgements  effected  by  Worth  and  Gluitman  the  day  before ; 
that  I  regretted  the  silent  escape  of  the  Mexican  army ;  that  I  should 
levy  a  moderate  contribution,  for  special  purposes ;  and  that  the 
American  army  should  come  under  no  terms,  not  self-imposed- 
such  only  as  its  own  honour,  the  dignity  of  the  United  States,  and 
the  spirit  of  the  age,  should,  in  my  opinion,  imperiously  demand 
and  impose. 
#########•##* 

"  At  the  termination  of  the  interview  with  the  city  deputation,  I 
communicated,  about  daylight,  orders  to  Worth  and  Gluitman  to  ad 
vance  slowly  and  cautiously  (to  guard  against  treachery)  towards 
the  heart  of  the  city,  and  to  occupy  its  stronger  and  more  command 
ing  points.  Gluitman  proceeded  to  the  great  plaza  or  square,  planted 
guards,  and  hoisted  the  colours  of  the  United  States  on  the  national 
palace — containing  the  halls  of  Congress  and  executive  departments 
of  federal  Mexico.  In  this  grateful  service,  Gluitman  might  have 
been  anticipated  by  Worth,  but  for  my  express  orders,  halting  the 
latter  at  the  head  of  the  Alemeda,  (a  green  park,)  within  three 
squares  of  that  goal  of  general  ambition.  The  capital,  however, 
was  not  taken  by  any  one  or  two  corps,  but  by  the  talent,  the  science, 
the  gallantry,  the  prowess  of  this  entire  army.  In  the  glorious  con 
quest,  all  had  contributed — early  and  powerfully — the  killed,  the 
wounded,  and  the  fit  for  duty — at  Vera  Cruz,  Sierra  Gordo,  Con- 
treros,  San  Antonio,  Churubusco,  (three  battles,)  the  Molinos  del 
Rey,  and  Chapultepec — as  much  as  those  who  fought  at  the  gates 
of  Belen  and  San  Cosme. 

"  Soon  after  we  had  entered,  and  were  in  the  act  of  occupying 
the  city,  a  fire  was  opened  on  us  from  the  flat  roofs  of  the  houses,  from 
windows  and  corners  of  streets,  by  some  two  thousand  convicts, 
liberated  the  night  before  by  the  flying  government — joined  by  per- 


NUMBER   IN   THE   BATTLES.  67 

haps  as  many  Mexican  soldiers,  who  had  disbanded  themselves  and 
thrown  off  their  uniforms.  This  unlawful  war  lasted  more  than 
twenty-four  hours,  in  spite  of  the  exertions  of  the  municipal  autho 
rities,  and  was  not  put  down  until  we  had  lost  many  men,  including 
several  officers,  killed  or  wounded,  and  had  punished  the  miscreants. 
Their  objects  were,  to  gratify  national  hatred ;  and,  in  the  general 
alarm  and  confusion,  to  plunder  the  wealthy  inhabitants — particularly 
the  deserted  houses.  But  families  are  now  generally  returning; 
business  of  every  kind  has  been  resumed,  and  the  city  is  already 
tranquil  and  cheerful,  under  the  admirable  conduct  (with  exceptions 
very  few  and  trifling)  of  our  gallant  troops. 

"This  army  has  been  more  disgusted  than  surprised  that,  by 
some  sinister  process  on  the  part  of  certain  individuals  at  home,  its 
numbers  have  been  generally  almost  trebled  in  our  public  papers- 
beginning  at  Washington. 

"Leaving,  as  we  all  feared,  inadequate  garrisons  at  Vera  Cruz, 
Perote,  and  Puebla,  with  much  larger  hospitals ;  and  being  obliged, 
most  reluctantly,  from  the  same  cause,  (general  paucity  of  numbers,) 
to  abandon  Jalapa,  we  inarched  [August  7-10]  from  Puebla,  with 
only  ten  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-eight,  rank  and  file. 
This  number  includes  the  garrison  of  Jalapa,  and  the  two  thousand 
four  hundred  and  twenty-nine  men  brought  up  by  Brigadier-Ge 
neral  Pierce,  August  6. 

"  At  Contreros,  Churubusco,  &c.,  [August  20,]  we  had  but  eight 
thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-seven  men  engaged — after  de 
ducting  the  garrison  of  San  Augustin,  (our  general  depot,)  the  in 
termediate  sick  and  the  dead ;  at  the  Molinos  del  Rey  [September 
8]  but  three  brigades,  with  some  cavalry  and  artillery — making  in 
all  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty-one  men — were  in  the 
battle  ;  in  the  two  days  [September  12  and  13]  our  whole  operating 
force,  after  deducting,  again,  the  recent  killed,  wounded,  and  sick, 
together  with  the  garrison  of  Miscoac  (the  then  general  depot)  and 
that  of  Tacubaya,  was  but  seven  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty  ; 
and,  finally,  after  deducting  the  new  garrison  of  Chapultepec,  with 
the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  two  days,  we  took  possession,  Sep 
tember  14,  of  this  great  capital,  with  less  than  six  thousand  men ! 
And  I  re-assert,  upon  accumulated  and  unquestionable  evidence, 
that,  in  not  one  of  those  conflicts,  was  this  army  opposed  by  fewer 


68  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT. 

than  three  and  a  half  times  its  numbers — in  several  of  them  by  a 
still  greater  excess. 

"I  recapitulate  our  losses  since  we  arrived  in  the  basin  of  Mexico. 

"  AUGUST  19,  20.-— Killed,  137,  including  14  officers.  Wounded, 
877,  including  62  officers.  Missing,  (probably  killed,)  38  rank  and 
file.  Total,  1,052. 

"SEPTEMBER  8. — Kitted,  116,  including  9  officers.  Wounded, 
665,  including  49  officers.  Missing,  18  rank  and  file.  Total, -862. 

"SEPTEMBER  12,  13,  14.— Killed,  130,  including  10  officers. 
Wounded,  703,  including  68  officers.  Missing,  20  rank  and  file. 
Total,  862. 

"Grand  total  of  losses,  2,703,  including  383  officers. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  this  small  force  has  beaten  on  the  same  oc 
casions,  in  view  of  their  capital,  the  whole  Mexican  army,  of  (at 
the  beginning)  thirty-odd  thousand  men — posted,  always,  in  chosen 
positions,  behind  entrenchments,  or  more  formidable  defences  of  na 
ture  and  art ;  killed  or  wounded,  of  that  number,  more  than  seven 
thousand  officers  and  men  ;  taken  three  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
thirty  prisoners,  one-seventh  officers,  including  thirteen  generals,  of 
whom  three  had  been  presidents  of  this  republic ;  captured  more 
than  twenty  colours  and  standards,  seventy-five  pieces  of  ordnance, 
besides  fifty-seven  wall  pieces,  twenty  thousand  small  arms,  an  im 
mense  quantity  of  shot,  shells,  powder,  &c.  &c. 

"  Of  that  enemy,  once  so  formidable  in  numbers,  appointments, 
artillery,  &c.,  twenty-odd  thousand  have  disbanded  themselves  in 
despair,  leaving,  as  is  known,  not  more  than  three  fragments,  the 
largest  about  two  thousand  five  hundred — now  wandering  in  differ 
ent  directions,  without  magazines  or  a  military  chest,  and  living  at 
free  quarters  upon  their  own  people. 

"  General  Santa  Anna,  himself  a  fugitive,  is  believed  to  be  on  the 
point  of  resigning  the  chief  magistracy,  and  escaping  to  neutral 
Guatemala.  A  new  president,  no  doubt,  will  soon  be  declared,  and 
the  federal  Congress  is  expected  to  re-assemble  at  Glueretaro,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  north  of  this,  on  the  Zacatecas  road, 
some  time  in  October.  1  have  seen  and  given  safe  conduct  through 
this  city,  to  several  of  its  members.  The  government  will  find  itself 
without  resources  ;  no  army,  no  arsenal,  no  magazines,  and  but  little 
revenue,  internal  or  external.  Still,  such  is  the  obstinacy,  or  rather 
infatuation,  of  this  people,  that  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  the  new 


DESCRIPTION   OF  THE   CAPITAL.  69 

authorities  will  dare  to  sue  for  peace  on  terms  which,  in  the  recent 
negotiations,  were  made  known  by  our  Minister.  *  *  * 

"  In  conclusion,  I  beg  to  enumerate,  once  more,  with  due  com 
mendation  and  thanks,  the  distinguished  staff  officers,  general  and 
personal,  who,  in  our  last  operations  in  front  of  the  enemy,  accom 
panied  me,  and  communicated  orders  to  every  point  and  through 
every  danger.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hitchcock,  acting  inspector-gene 
ral  ;  Major  Turnbull  and  Lieutenant  Hardcastle,  topographical  en 
gineers  ;  Major  Kirby,  chief  paymaster ;  Captain  Irwin,  chief  quar 
termaster  ;  Captain  Grayson,  chief  commissary ;  Captain  H.  L. 
Scott,  in  the  adjutant-general's  department ;  Lieutenant  Williams, 
aid-de-camp ;  Lieutenant  Lay,  military  secretary,  and  Major  J.  P. 
Gaines,  Kentucky  cavalry,  volunteer  aid-de-camp.  Captain  Lee, 
engineer,  so  constantly  distinguished,  also  bore  important  orders 
from  me  (September  13)  until  he  fainted  from  a  wound  and  the  loss 
of  two  nights'  sleep  at  the  batteries. 

"Lieutenants  Beauregard,  Stephens,  and  Tower,  all  wounded, 
were  employed  with  the  divisions,  and  Lieutenants  G.  W.  Smith 
and  G.  B.  McClellan  with  the  company  of  sappers  and  miners. 
Those  five  lieutenants  of  engineers,  like  their  captain,  won  the  ad 
miration  of  all  about  them.  The  ordnance  officers,  Captain  Huger, 
Lieutenants  Hagner,  Stone,  and  Reno,  were  highly  effective,  and 
distinguished  at  the  several  batteries  ;  and  I  must  add  that  Captain 
McKinstry,  assistant  quartermaster,  at  the  close  of  the  operations, 
executed  several  important  commissions  for  me  as  a  special  volun 
teer. 

"  Surgeon-General  Lawson,  and  the  medical  staff  generally,  were 
skilful  and  untiring  in  and  out  of  fire  in  ministering  to  the  numerous 
wounded." 

The  city  of  Mexico  is  thus  described  in  Murray's  Encyclopedia 
of  Geography : — 

"  The  state  of  Mexico  comprises  the  valley  of  Mexico,  a  fine  and 
splendid  region,  variegated  by  extensive  lakes,  and  surrounded  by 
some  of  the  loftiest  volcanic  peaks  of  the  new  world.  Its  circum 
ference  is  about  two  hundred  miles,  and  it  forms  the  very  centre  of 
ihe  great  table-land  of  Anahuac,  elevated  from  six  to  eight  thousand 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  In  the  centre  of  this  valley  stands 
the  city  of  Mexico ;  the  ancient  Mexico,  or  Tenochtitlan,  having 
been  built  in  the  middle  of  a  lake,  and  connected  with  the  continent 


70  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD    SCOTT. 

by  extensive  causeways  or  dykes.  The  new  Mexico  is  three  miles 
from  the  lake  of  Tezcuco,  and  nearly  six  from  that  of  Chalco ;  yet 
Humboldt  considers  it  certain,  from  the  remains  of  the  ancient 
teocalli,  or  temples,  that  it  occupies  the  identical  pdsition  of  the  for 
mer  city,  and  that  a  great  part  of  the  waters  of  the  valley  have  been 
dried  up.  Mexico  was  long  considered  the  largest  city  of  America ; 
but  it  is  now  surpassed  by  New  York,  perhaps  even  by  Rio  Janeiro. 
Some  estimates  have  raised  its  population  to  two  hundred  thousand  ; 
but  it  may,  on  good  grounds,  be  fixed  at  from  one  hundred  and 
twenty  to  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand.  It  is  beyond  dispute 
the  most  splendid.  'Mexico  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  finest  cities 
built  by  Europeans  in  either  hemisphere ;  with  the  exception  of  St. 
Petersburgh,  Berlin,  and  Philadelphia,  and  some  quarters  of  West 
minster,  there  does  not  exist  a  city  of  the  same  extent  which  can  be 
compared  to  the  capital  of  New  Spain,  for  the  uniform  level  of  the 
ground  on  which  it  stands,  for  the  regularity  and  breadth  of  the 
streets,  and  the  extent  of  the  squares  and  public  places.  The  archi 
tecture  is  generally  of  a  very  pure  style,  and  there  are  even  edifices 
of  a  very  beautiful  structure.'  The  palace  of  the  late  viceroys,  the 
cathedral,  built  in  what  is  termed  the  Gothic  style,  several  of  the 
convents,  and  some  private  palaces,  reared  upon  plans  furnished  by 
the  pupils  of  the  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  are  of  great  extent  and 
magnificence;  yet,  upon  the  whole,  it  is  rather  the  arrangement, 
regularity,  and  general  effect  of  the  city  which  render  it  so  striking. 
Nothing  in  particular  can  be  more  enchanting  than  the  view  of  the 
city  and  the  valley  from  the  surrounding  heights.  The  eye  sweeps 
over  a  vast  extent  of  cultivated  fields  to  the  very  base  of  the  colossal 
mountains,  covered  with  perpetual  snow.  The  city  appears  as  if 
washed  by  the  waters  of  the  lake  of  Tezcuco,  which,  surrounded  by 
villages  and  hamlets,  resembles  the  most  beautiful  of  the  Swiss  lakes ; 
and  the  rich  cultivation  of  the  vicinity  forms  a  striking  contrast  with 
the  naked  mountains.  Among  these  rise  the  famous  volcano  Popo 
catepetl  and  the  mountain  of  Iztaccihuatl,  of  which  the  first,  an  en 
ormous  cone,  burns  occasionally,  throwing  up  smoke  and  ashes  in 
the  midst  of  eternal  snows.  The  police  of  the  city  is  excellent ;  most 
of  the  streets  are  handsomely  paved,  lighted,  and  cleansed.  The 
annual  consumption  in  Mexico  has  been  computed  at  sixteen  thou 
sand  three  hundred  beeves  ;  two  hundred  and  seventy-nine  thousand 
sheep ;  fifty  thousand  hogs  ;  one  million  six  hundred  thousand  fowls, 


DESCRIPTION   OF   THE   FORTIFICATIONS.  71 

including  ducks  and  turkeys ;  two  hundred  and  five  thousand  pigeons 
and  partridges.  The  markets  are  remarkably  well  supplied  with 
animal  and  vegetable  productions,  brought  by  crowds  of  canoes  along 
the  lake  of  Chalco,  and  the  canal  leading  to  it.  These  canoes  are 
often  guided  by  females,  who  at  the  same  time  are  weaving  cotton 
in  their  simple  portable  looms,  or  plucking  fowls,  and  throwing  the 
feathers  into  the  water.  Most  of  the  flowers  and  roots  have  been 
raised  in  chinampas,  or  floating  gardens,  an  invention  peculiar  to 
the  new  world.  They  consist  of  rafts  formed  of  reeds,  roots,  and 
bushes,  and  covered  with  black  saline  mould,  which,  being  irrigated 
by  the  water  of  the  lake,  becomes  exceedingly  fertile.  It  is  a  great 
disadvantage  to  Mexico,  however,  that  it  stands  nearly  on  a  level 
with  the  surrounding  lake ;  which,  in  seasons  of  heavy  rain,  over 
whelms  it  with  destructive  inundations.  The  construction  of  a 
desague,  or  canal,  to  carry  off  the  waters  of  the  lake  of  Zumpango, 
and  of  the  principal  river  by  which  it  is  fed,  has,  since  1629,  pre 
vented  any  very  desolating  flood.  The  desague,  though  not  conduct 
ed  with  skill  and  judgment,  cost  five  millions  of  dollars,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  stupendous  hydraulic  works  ever  executed.  Were  it 
filled  with  water,  the  largest  vessels  of  war  might  pass  by  it  through 
the  range  of  mountains  which  bound  the  plain  of  Mexico.  The 
alarms,  however,  have  been  frequent,  and  cannot  well  cease,  while 
the  level  of  that  lake  is  twenty  feet  above  that  of  the  great  square 
of  Mexico." 

The  New  Orleans  Picayune  gives  the  following  description  of 
the  fortifications  around  the  Mexican  capital : — 

*'  Much  as  has  already  been  said,  our  people  even  up  to  this  time 
have  but  an  imperfect  idea  of  the  immense  superiority  of  force 
General  Scott's  little  army  had  to  contend  with  in  the  valley  of 
Mexico.  Some  weeks  since  one  of  the  editors  of  this  paper,  writing 
fron  the  seat  of  war,  attempted  to  draw  a  parallel  between  the  deeds 
of  the  early  Spaniards  and  those  of  our  own  gallant  soldiers ;  but  at 
the  time  he  did  not  know  the  full  strength  of  the  Mexican  works 
and  fortifications,  all  completed  previous  to  the  noted  13th  Septem 
ber,  and  ready  to  repel  the  onslaughts  of  the  comparatively  insigni 
ficant  band  of  invaders.  From  a  statement  by  Captain  Lee,  one  of 
the  best  engineers  in  the  American  or  any  other  service,  it  would 
seem  that  the  Mexicans  had  at  the 


72  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD    SCOTT. 

Penon      -    -  -  20  batteries,  for  51  guns,  and  15  inf.  breastworks. 

Mexicalcingo  -     8          "  38      "       "      1    "          " 

San  Antonio  -7          "  24      "       "      2   "          " 

Churubusco  -    2          "  15      "       "    —  "          " 

Contreros  -     1          "  22      "       "    —  " 

Chapultepec  -     7          "  19      "        "      7   "          " 

Total,         45  169  25 

"These  were  the  outer  works,  admirably  well  situated  for  de 
fence,  and  presenting  a  most  formidable  appearance  to  those  who 
were  compelled  to  attack  them  from  causeways,  marshes,  and  open 
plains.  The  works  at  El  Molino,  including  the  battery  and  the  lines 
of  infantry  intrenchments  and  strong  buildings,  are  not  enumerated 
in  the  above.  Immediately  around  the  city  of  Mexico,  independent 
of  the  innumerable  ditches  —  these  ditches  filled  with  water,  gene 
rally  twenty-five  feet  wide  and  five  feet  deep,  whose  banks  formed 
natural  parapets  —  there  were  forty-seven  additional  batteries,  pre 
pared  like  the  others  for  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  guns,  and 
with  seventeen  infantry  breastworks.  Adding  these  to  the  above, 
and  we  have  on  all  the  lines  defending  the  approaches  to  the  city 
no  less  than  ninety-two  batteries,  prepared  for  three  hundred  and 
forty-six  guns,  and  forty-two  infantry  breastworks !  When  it  is 
added  that  to  all  these  works — and  our  own  engineers  were  forcibly 
struck  with  the  admirable  style  in  which  all  the  batteries  of  the 
enemy  were  constructed — that  the  city  of  Mexico  was  naturally  do- 
fended  by  canals,  houses  of  solid  and  heavy  masonry,  mud  ditches, 
water,  &c.  &c. ;  that  all  the  buildings  have  flat  roofs  with  solid 
parapets  ;  that  the  convents  and  many  other  public  edifices  are  but 
so  many  fortifications — when  all  these  circumstances  are  taken  into 
consideration,  with  the  immense  numerical  superiority  of  the  Mexi 
cans,  the  achievements  of  the  invaders  will  appear  almost  incre 
dible. 

"  The  science  of  engineering  is  probably  as  well  understood  by 
the  Mexicans  as  by  any  of  the  European  nations,  as  an  examination 
of  their  works  will  at  once  prove,  while  their  artillery  practice  is 
most  effective ;  yet  all  availed  them  nothing  against  the  bold  and 
steady  advance  of  the  Americans.  The  sanguinary  battle  of  El 
Molino,  costly  as  it  was  to  General  Worth's  division,  was  appallingly 
disastrous  to  the  enemy,  as  there  his  two  best  infantry  regiments,  the 


INDUSTRY   OF   THE   MEXICANS.  73 

llth  and  12th  of  the  line,  were  utterly  annihilated.  From  that  day 
until  the  capital  was  entered,  comparatively  speaking,  our  army 
suffered  but  little  from  the  musketry  of  the  enemy,  his  cannon  doing 
nearly  all  the  execution.  General  Gluitman's  advance  upon  the 
Garita  of  Belen,  one  of  the  most  daring  deeds  of  the  war,  was 
through  an  avenue  of  blood  caused  by  the  grape,  canister  and  round 
shot  of  the  Mexican  cannon  ;  while  the  streets  of  San  Cosme,  through 
which  the  remnant  of  General  Worth's  division  was  compelled  to 
advance,  was  literally  swept  by  the  heavy  cannon  and  wall  pieces 
at  the  garita  of  the  same  name.  The  infantry  firing  around  the 
base  of  Chapultepec  was  as  nothing  compared  with  the  incessant  tor 
nado  of  bullets  which  rattled  amid  the  ranks  of  our  columns  as  they 
advanced  upon  Churtrbusco  and  the  Molino  del  Rey. 

"  And  who  constructed  the  batteries  and  breastworks  around  the 
capital  of  Mexico  ?  Men,  women,  and  children,  as  by  a  common, 
impulse,  were  busy  night  and  day,  and  even  ladies  of  the  higher 
class  are  said  to  have  been  liberal  in  their  toil  in  adding  to  the  com 
mon  defence.  Works  complete  in  every  part  sprung  up,  as  if  by 
magic ;  the  morning  light  would  dawn  upon  some  well-barricaded 
approach,  which  the  night  before  was  apparently  open  to  the  ad 
vance  of  armed  men.  From  the  outposts  of  the  Americans,  at  any 
time  between  the  8th  and  12th  September,  thousands  and  thousands 
of  the  enemy  could  be  seen,  spade  and  mattock  in  hand,  strengthen 
ing  old  and  forming  new  barriers,  and  the  busy  hum  of  labour 
reached  our  sentinels  even  during  the  still  hours  of  the  night,  as 
fresh  guns  were  placed  in  position,  or  new  avenues  of  approach  were 
closed  against  the  invaders.  Yet  all  would  not  do.  The  Mexicans 
had  not  the  stern  courage  to  defend  the  works  they  had  constructed 
with  such  zeal  and  care,  and  one  after  another  fell  before  the  un 
flinching  bravery  of  men  who  had  but  victory  or  death  before 
them." 

The  Hartford  Times  thus  speaks  of  General  Scott's  campaign  in 
Mexico :  — 

"  It  seems  to  us  that  the  merit  of  General  Scott,  in  gaining  the 
late  astounding  victories  before  Mexico,  has  not  as  yet  received  its 
fitting  tribute  from  the  public  press.  His  political  opinions  must 
necessarily  ever  debar  him  from  receiving  the  suffrages  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party  for  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  Union.  But  this  circum 
stance  cannot  prevent  us  from  seeing  that  this  great  soldier  has 
7 


74  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD    SCOTT. 

deserved  exceedingly  well  of  the  Republic,  and  acquired  a  very 
strong  title  to  the  fervent  gratitude  of  his  countrymen.  Perhaps, 
indeed,  to  a  man  whose  hairs  are  already  silvered  in  the  service  of 
his  country,  the  due  appreciation  and  acknowledgment  of  that  ser 
vice  may  prove  a  more  acceptable  reward  than  the  highest  office 
that  could  be  conferred  upon  him.  At  all  events,  the  least  that  can 
be  done  is  to  award  just  honour  and  praise,  in  no  stinted  or  niggardly 
measure,  to  those  who  have  no  other  remuneration  to  expect  for 
their  brave  deeds.  The  battles  of  Contreros  and  Churubusco  cer 
tainly  rank  among  the  most  brilliant  military  achievements  of  the 
age.  A  little  band  of  eleven  thousand  audacious  invaders  have  de 
feated,  with  immense  slaughter,  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  troops, 
drawn  up  in  a  position  of  their  own  choosing*  on  their  own  soil,  to 
defend  their  altars  and  hearths,  in  the  very  heart  of  their  country. 
But  it  was  not  alone  the  indomitable  valour  of  our  troops  which 
distinguished  these  battles.  They  were  to  an  equal  degree  marked 
with  all  the  skill,  science,  and  foresight  of  a  masterly  strategy. 

"  In  turnkig  the  rocky  and  almost  impregnable  passes  of  Penon 
and  Mexicalcingo,  fortified  with  terrific  batteries,  upon  which  the 
enemy  had  expended  the  labour  of  months,  General  Scott  displayed 
the  most  consummate  generalship.  It  was  not  the  mere  avoiding 
or  evading  these  formidable  posts  which  constituted  its  merit.  It 
was,  that  his  cool  and  practised  eye  discerned  at  a  glance  that  a 
passage  could  be  cut  through  dense  forests  and  tangled  defiles,  and 
heaps  of  huge  rock,  where  the  enemy  never  dreamed  that  such  an 
exploit  was  conceivable.  It  was  a  repetition  of  the  same  skilful 
outflanking  manoeuvre  by  which  he  had  before  spared  so  much  va 
luable  life  at  Sierra  Gordo  —  a  movement  which  rendered  all  the 
laborious  preparations  and  defences  of  the  enemy  useless,  and  which 
Santa  Anna  himself  pronounced  to  be  masterly  and  worthy  of  Napo 
leon.  It  has  been  the  crowning  merit  of  Scott,  that,  while  he  has 
been  everywhere  victorious,  he  has  also  everywhere  husbanded  his 
forces.  Daring  and  intrepid  to  the  last  degree  where  those  qualities 
were  called  for,  he  has  at  the  same  time  been  careful  never  wantonly 
to  waste  the  lives  of  his  troops  in  unnecessary  stormings  or  reckless 
assaults.  Under  almost  any  other  general,  his  mere  handful  of 
troops  would  long  since  have  melted  away  from  repeated  collisions 
with  inert  but  overwhelming  masses.  With  a  humanity  not  less 
conspicuous  than  his  braver)'-,  Scott  has  always  abstained  from  any 


OPINIONS   OF   THE   PRESS.  75 

indiscriminate  slaughter  even  of  a  sanguinary  and  merciless  foe. 
*  *  *  It  was  a  great  thing  to  have  mastered  the  renowned  for 
tress  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa — a  second  Gibraltar — with  so  trifling  a 
loss  of  life.  The  victory  over  Santa  Anna  at  Sierra  Gordo,  in  the 
manner  as  well  as  in  the  magnitude  of  the  achievement,  was 
a  daring  and  masterly  exploit.  It  was  also  a  great  thing  —  a  sight, 
in  fact,  full  of  moral  grandeur  —  when  four  thousand  two  hundred 
tattered  and  wayworn  soldiers  under  his  command  entered  the  mag 
nificent  city  of  Puebla,  and,  with  all  the  confidence  of  conquerors, 
stacked  their  arms  and  laid  themselves  down  to  sleep  in  the  great 
square,  surrounded  by  a  hostile  population  of  eighty  thousand. 

"  But,  last  of  all,  and  more  admirable  than  all,  has  been  the  care 
with  which  he. has  nursed  and  kept  together  his  little  band  of  eleven 
thousand,  and  the  almost  fabulous  audacity  and  still  more  incredible 
success  with  which  he  has  pushed  them,  step  by  step,  to  the  very 
heart  of  a  civilized  nation  of  seven  millions,  and  to  the  gates  of  a 
capital  of  two  hundred  thousand  souls,  the  renowned  seat  of  a  le 
gendary  and  mythic  magnificence,  and  the  most  ancient  and  best- 
built  city  on  the  continent.  If  modern  warfare  has  any  parallel  for 
this  great  feat  of  arms,  we  know  not  where  to  look  for  it. 

"The  successive  triumphs  of  Vera  Cruz,  of  Sierra  Gordo,  of 
Puebla,  and  of  Mexico,  undimmed  as  they  have  hitherto  been  by  a 
single  reverse,  have  unquestionably  raised  the  reputation  of  the 
commander  to  a  very  great  height,  and  placed  it,  to  say  the  least, 
fully  on  a  level  with  that  of  the  greatest  generals  of  his  time.  Nor 
is  there  any  denying  that  those  victories  have  been  of  such  an  order 
that,  while  they  elevate  the  successful  leader,  they  also,  to  at  least 
an  equal  degree,  exalt  the  character  and  extend  the  renown  of  his 
country.  Hence  we  cannot  bring  ourselves  to  make  any  apology 
for  what  appears  to  us  a  just  notice  of  General  Scott,  on  the  score 
of  his  being  a  Whig.  A  sense  of  gratitude  for  his  distinguished 
services  in  this  war  would  not  permit  us  to  say  less.  The  fame  of 
a  victorious  general  cannot  justly  be  held  to  belong  to  any  party.  It 
is  the  property  of  the  whole  nation." 

The  Baltimore  American  of  October  22d,  says : — 

"  The  records  of  the  gallant  achievements  of  our  troops  in  Mexico 
add  new  lustre  to  the  martial  history  of  the  Republic.  From  the 
landing  at  Vera  Cruz,  to  the  entrance  of  our  army  into  the  city  of 
Mexico,  a  series  of  brilliant  exploits  has  marked  every  step  of  their 

11 


76  MAJOR-GENERAL   WINFIELD    SCOTT. 

way.  If  the  retreat  of  Xenophon,  with  ten  thousand  men,  from  the 
heart  of  an  enemy's  country,  is  regarded  with  admiration,  and  men 
tioned  in  history  as  one  of  those  extraordinary  things  which  genius 
and  enterprise  can  accomplish  when  favoured  by  fortune,  what  must 
be  said  of  the  advance  of  an  army  little  exceeding  ten  thousand  into 
the  valley  of  Mexico,  into  the  capital  of  the  enemy's  country,  three 
hundred  miles  from  the  coast;  storming  its  way  as  it  marched,  de 
feating  armies  far  exceeding  it  in  numbers,  and  entrenched  in  strong 
fortifications,  and  holding  its  position  victoriously  in  a  city  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  in  the  midst  of  a  dense 
and  hostile  population  around  ? 

"  The  army  which  has  done  this  is  composed,  too,  in  part  of 
volunteer  soldiers  who  have  seen  service  for  the  first  time — of  men 
who  hurried  from  the  peaceful  avocations  of  life  to  encounter  the 
perils  and  hardships  of  war,  with  no  preparation,  no  habitual  disci 
pline,  expecting  to  receive  their  first  lessons  in  military  affairs  upon 
the  field  of  battle.  Noble  scholars  indeed  have  they  proved  them 
selves  to  be  !  The  soldiers  of  one  campaign,  they  are  veterans  al 
ready,  able  to  cope  with  the  veterans  of  any  service. 

"  The  masterly  generalship  of  the  commander-in-chief  has  ex 
hibited  the  most  admirable  combinations  of  discretion  and  daring 
throughout  this  whole  career  of  bold  invasion,  of  determined  per 
severance  and  heroic  achievements.  The  laurels  of  Chippewa, 
which  crowned  the  youthful  brow  of  Scott,  are  renewed  and  fresh 
ened  by  those  plucked  from  the  battle-fields  of  Mexico.  Long  may 
they  flourish  in  the  brightness  of  their  verdure  ! 

"  The  forbearance  of  General  Scott  when  he  entered  the  city  of 
Mexico,  as  testified  to  by  the  letters  of  resident  foreigners  who  had 
witnessed  the  sacking  of  European  cities  when  entered  by  an  ex 
cited  and  victorious  soldiery,  is  a  characteristic  of  the  most  exalted 
kind,  reflecting  unspeakable  honour  upon  the  commander  who  or 
dered,  and  upon  the  troops  that  obeyed  such  directions  of  forbear 
ance  at  such  a  moment.  The  evidence  is  direct,  that  no  houses 
were  molested,  except  those  from  which  shots  were  fired  upon  our 
men. 

"The  country  has  reason  to  be  proud  indeed  of  this  brave  little 
army,  of  its  eminent  general,  of  its  noble  and  accomplished  officers. 
Worthily  have  they  sustained  the  American  name ;  gloriously  have 
they  exalted  its  martial  renown  in  the  eyes  of  the  world.  It  is  now 


HIS   BRAVERY,    SKILL,    ETC.  77 

for  the  country  to  sustain  them,  to  strengthen  that  gallant  band,  to 
uphold  them  in  that  distant  and  hostile  land  upon  which  they  have 
enstamped  the  impress  of  American  valour,  and  displayed  victory 
on  the  folds  of  the  national  flag." 

Such  has  been  the  career  of  Major-General  Scott  up  to  the  pre 
sent  time.  Beginning  his  military  course  at  Chippewa,  he  attained, 
during  the  late  war,  a  renown  for  bravery,  skill,  and  generalship,  as 
flattering  as  it  was  singular ;  and  his  recent  unparalleled  campaign 
in  Mexico  has  confirmed  all  former  opinion  of  his  merits,  proven 
his  efficiency  in  planning  and  executing  a  series  of  protracted  ope 
rations,  and  placed  him  before  the  world  as  one  of  the  ablest  gene 
rals  of  his  age. 


7* 


MAJOR-GENERAL   PILLOW. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  GIDEON  J.  PILLOW,  although  well-tried  in  the 
glorious  campaign  under  Scott,  has  but  recently  entered  the  army. 
His  commission  bears  date  April  13th,  1847,  but  he  assisted  in  the 
bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz.  He  was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  en 
tered  the  army  from  that  state. 

At  Vera  Cruz,  Pillow  was  employed  in  extending  the  American 
line,  in  order  completely  to  invest  the  city.  He  frequently  encoun 
tered  parties  of  the  enemy,  with  whom  he  had  some  slight  skir 
mishes,  in  one  of  which  several  of  his  men  were  wounded.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  siege,  and  was  one  of  the  commissioners 
to  negotiate  the  capitulation. 

At  Sierra  Gordo,  Pillow  attacked  a  fort  to  the  left  of  the  main 
work,  in  which  was  a  large  Mexican  force  under  General  La  Vega. 
He  had  carefully  reconnoitred  this  station,  and  led  his  troops  to  the 
assault  in  the  face  of  a  galling  fire.  La  Vega,  however,  defended 
himself  with  an  obstinacy  worthy  of  the  fame  he  had  acquired  on 
the  Rio  Grande,  and  the  Americans  were  obliged  to  fall  back.  A 
second  attempt  was  attended  with  similar  results.  While  chagrined 
with  this  unavoidable  repulse,  Pillow  was  gratified  to  learn  that  he 
had  held  the  Mexicans  long  enough  employed  to  prevent  their  suc 
couring  Santa  Anna's  forces,  whose  capture  had,  consequently^  been 
much  accelerated.  On  perceiving  that  the  battle  was  lost,  General 
La  Vega  surrendered. 

General  Pillow  has  borne  his  full  share  in  the  recent  operations 
before  the  capital.  His  services  in  the  first  series  of  operations  are 
related  in  the  following  extracts  from  his  own  report : 

"  In  compliance  with  the  order  of  the  general-in-chief,  I  moved 
with  my  division,  consisting  of  the  9th,  llth,  12th,  14th  and  15th 
(78) 


GENERAL  PILLOW. 


Page  78. 


OPERATIONS   NEAR   THE    CAPITAL.  79 

infantry,  the  voltigeur  regiment,  the  field  battery  of  Captain 
Magruder,  and  the  howitzer  battery  under  Lieutenant  Callender, 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  instant,  and  opened  the  road  over 
the  mountain  on  the  route  indicated  by  Captain  Lee,  of  the  engineer 
corps,  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Beauregard,  Stephens,  Tower,  Smith, 
McClelland,  and  Foster.  Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  with  his  divi 
sion,  reported  to  me  for  duty,  under  instructions  from  the  general-in- 
chief,  whilst  my  own  division  was  moving  over  the  mountain. 

"  Perceiving  that  the  enemy  was  in  large  force  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  valley,  with  heavy  batteries  of  artillery  commanding  the 
only  road  through  a  vast  plain  of  broken  volcanic  stone  and  lava, 
rent  into  deep  chasms  and  fissures,  effectually  preventing  any  ad 
vance  except  under  his  direct  fire,  I  resolved  to  give  him  battle. 
For  this  purpose,  I  ordered  General  Twiggs  to  advance  with  his 
finely-disciplined  division,  and  writh  one  brigade  to  assault  the  ene 
my's  works  in  front,  and  with  the  other  to  turn  his  left  flank,  and 
assail  it  in  reverse.  Captain  Magruder's  fine  field  battery  and  Lieu 
tenant  Calender's  howitzer  battery  (both  of  which  constitute  part 
of  my  division)  were  placed  at  the  disposal  of  Brigadier-General 
Twiggs. 

"  This  officer,  in  executing  my  order  of  attack,  directed  Brevet 
Brigadier-General  Smith  to  move  with  his  brigade  upon  the  enemy's 
front,  whilst  Colonel  Riley,  with  his,  was  ordered  to  turn  his  left, 
and  assail  him  in  rear.  To  sustain  these  movements,  Brigadier- 
General  Cadwalader  was  ordered  to  advance  with  his  brigade  and 
support  Colonel  Riley,  and  Brigadier-General  Pierce,  with  his  com 
mand,  to  support  the  column  moving  upon  the  enemy's  front,  under 
Brigadier-General  Smith.  This  last  command  was  soon  closely 
engaged  with  the  enemy,  as  were  also  the  batteries  of  Captain  Ma 
gruder  and  Lieutenant  Callender. 

"  Colonel  Riley's  command,  having  now  crossed  the  vast,  broken- 
up  plain  of  lava,  passing  the  village  on  the  right,  and  whilst  in  the 
act  of  turning  the  enemy's  left,  was  confronted  by  several  thousand 
lancers,  who  advanced  to  the  charge,  when  a  well-directed  fire  from 
the  brigade  twice  compelled  them  to  fall  back  in  disorder,  under 
cover  of  their  artillery.  About  this  time  Brigadier-General  Cad- 
walader's  command  had  also  crossed  the  plain,  when  some  five  or 
six  thousand  troops  of  the  enemy  were  observed  moving  rapidly 
from  the  direction  of  the  capital  to  the  field  of  action.  Colonel 


80  MAJOR-GENERAL    PILLOW. 

Morgan,  with  his  large  and  fine  regiment,  which  I  had  caused  to  be 
detached  from  the  rear  of  Pierce's  brigade,  was  now  ordered  to  the 
support  of  Cadwalader,  by  direction  of  the  general-in  chief,  who  had 
now  arrived  upon  the  field. 

"  The  general,  having  discovered  this  large  force  moving  upon 
his  right  flank  and  to  the  rear,  with  decided  military  tact  and 
promptitude  threw  back  his  right  wing  and  confronted  the  enemy, 
with  the  intention  to  give  him  battle, 'notwithstanding  his  over 
whelming  force. 

"  This  portion  of  the  enemy's  force  moved  steadily  forward  until 
a  conflict  seemed  inevitable,  when  Colonel  Morgan's  regiment, 
having  reached  this  part  of  the  field,  presented  a  front  so  formidable 
as  to  induce  the  enemy  to  change  his  purpose,  and  draw  off  to  the 
right  and  rear  of  his  former  position. 

"  During  all  this  time,  the  battle  raged  fiercely  between  the  other 
portions  of  the  two  armies,  with  a  constant  and  destructive  fire  of 
artillery.  Magruder's  battery,  from  its  prominent  position,  was  much 
disabled  by  the  heavy  shot  of  the  enemy,  as  were  also  Calender's 
howitzers.  A  part  of  the  enemy's  artillery  had  been  turned  upon 
Riley's  command,  whilst  actively  engaged  with  large  bodies  of 
lancers ;  but  even  these  combined  attacks  could  only  delay  the  pur 
pose  of  the  gallant  old  veteran  and  his  noble  brigade. 

"The  battle  all  this  day  was  conducted  under  my  immediate  or 
ders,  and  within  my  view;  a  short  time  before  sunset,  having  pre 
viously  engaged  in  the  fight  all  the  forces  at  my  disposal,  myself 
and  staff  started  to  cross  the  plain,  to  join  in  the  terrible  struggle  on 
the  immediate  field  of  action. 

"  The  battle  being  won  before  the  advancing  brigades  of  Worth's 
and  Gluitman's  divisions  were  in  sight,  both  were  ordered  back  to 
their  late  positions  —  Worth,  to  attack  San  Antonio,  in  front,  with 
his  whole  force,  as  soon  as  approached  in  the  rear  by  Pillow's  and 
Twiggs'  divisions — moving  from  Contreros,  through  San  Angel  and 
Coyoacan.  By  carrying  San  Antonio,  we  knew  that  we  should  open 
another — a  shorter  and  better  road  to  the  capital — for  our  siege  and 
other  trains. 

"  On  my  way  thither,  I  was  joined  by  Brigadier-General  Twiggs 
and  staff;  but  the  darkness  of  the  night,  rendered  still  more  obscure 
by  a  heavy  rain,  caused  us  to  miss  our  way  through  the  broken-up 
lava,  and  to  wander  to  the  close  neighbourhood  of  the  works  of  the 


OPERATIONS  NEAR  THE  CAPITAL.        81 

enemy ;  and  it  was  not  until  the  shrill  blasts  of  his  bugles  apprized 
us  of  our  position,  that  we  became  satisfied  we  could  not  reach, 
during  the  night,  our  destination.  We  then  returned,  and  reported 
to  the  general-in-chief. 

"  During  the  night,  Brigadier-General  Smith  disposed  the  forces 
present,  to  renew  the  action  at  daylight,  and  complete  the  original 
order  of  attack.  Before  dark,  however,  the  enemy  had  placed  two 
pieces  of  artillery  on  a  height  nearly  west  of  Cadwalader's  position, 
which  had  opened  with  several  discharges  upon  his  forces.  Briga 
dier-General  Smith,  just  before  daylight,  moved  a  portion  of  the 
forces  up  the  ravine  to  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  position,  so  as  to  be 
within  easy  turning  distance  of  his  left  flank — leaving  Colonel  Ran 
som  with  ths  9th  and  12th  infantry  to  make  a  strong  diversion  in 
front.  The  day  being  sufficiently  advanced,  the  order  was  given  by 
Brigadier-General  Smith  for  the  general  assault;  when,  General 
Smith's  command  upon  the  left,  and  Colonel  Riley  with  his  brigade 
upon  the  right,  supported  by  General  Cadwalader,  with  his  com 
mand,  moved  up  with  the  utmost  gallantry,  under  the  furious  fire 
from  the  enemy's  batteries,  which  were  immediately  carried ;  a  large 
number  of  prisoners  were  taken,  including  four  generals,  with  twenty- 
three  out  of  the  twenty-eight  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  large  amount 
of  ammunition  and  public  property. 

"  The  retreating  enemy  was  compelled  to  pass  through  a  severe 
fire,  both  from  the  assaulting  forces  and  Cadwalader's  brigade,  as 
well  as  Shields'  command,  who  had  remained  at  the  position  occu 
pied  by  the  former  general  the  previous  night,  with  the  purpose  of 
covering  the  movement  upon  the  battery.  The  forces  of  the  enemy 
engaged  at  this  place,  including  the  reinforcements  of  the  preceding 
evening,  constituted  a  force  of  about  sixteen  thousand  men,  five 
thousand  of  whom  were  cavalry ;  the  whole  were  under  the  imme 
diate  command  of  General  Santa  Anna  in  person,  assisted  by  Gene 
rals  Valencia,  Salas,  Blanco,  Mendoza,  Garcia  and  others ;  the  last 
four  mentioned  were  taken  prisoners. 

"  Our  forces,  consisting  of  my  division,  Generals  Twiggs'  and 
Shields'  commands,  amounted  to  about  four  thousand  five  hundred 
men.  The  loss  of  the  enemy,  as  nearly  as  I  can  ascertain,  was  be 
tween  fifteen  hundred  and  two  thousand  men  killed  and  wounded, 
and  eight  hundred  prisoners,  including  the  four  generals  previously 


82  MAJOR-GENERAL    PILLOW. 

mentioned,  four  colonels,  thirty  captains,  and  many  officers  of  infe 
rior  grades.         * 

.  "  Having  myself  crossed  the  plain  and  reached  this  bloody  theatre 
as  the  last  scene  of  the  conflict  was  closing,  as  soon  as  suitable  dispo 
sitions  were  made  to  secure  the  fruits  of  the  victory,  I  resolved  upon 
pursuing  the  discomfited  enemy,  in  which  I  found  that  Brigadier- 
Generals  Twiggs  and  Smith  had  already  anticipated  me  by  having 
commenced  the  movement.  At  the  same  time,  I  apprized  the  ge- 
neral-in-chief  of  my  advance,  requesting  his  authority  to  proceed 
with  all  the  forces  still  under  my  command,  sweeping  around  the 
valley,  attack  the  strong  works  of  San  Antonio  in  rear;  and  re 
quested  the  co-operation  of  General  Worth's  division,  by  an  assault 
upon  that  work  in  front ;  which  the  general-in-chief  readily  granted 
and  directed  accordingly — having,  as  I  learn,  upon  being  advised  of 
the  victory,  previously  given  the  order.  I  had  moved  rapidly  for 
ward  in  execution  of  this  purpose,  until  I  reached  the  town  Coyoacan, 
where  the  command  was  halted  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  general- 
in-chief,  who  I  was  informed  was  close  at  hand.  Upon  his  arrival, 
the  important  fact  was  ascertained,  that  the  enemy's  forces  at  San 
Antonio  having  perceived  that  the  great  battery  had  been  lost,  and 
the  total  defeat  and  rout  of  their  forces  at  Contreros,  by  which  their 
rear  was  opened  to  assault,  had  abandoned  the  work  at  San  Antonio, 
and  fallen  back  upon  their  strong  entrenchments  in  rear  at  Churu- 
busco. 

"Upon  the  receipt  of  this  information,  the  general-in-chief  imme 
diately  ordered  Brigadier-General  Twiggs's  division  to  move  forward 
and  attack  the  work  on  the  enemy's  right,  and  directed  me  to  move 
with  Cadwalader's  brigade,  and  assault  the  tete  du  pont  on  its  left. 
Moving  rapidly  in  execution  of  this  order,  I  had  great  difficulty  in 
passing  the  command  over  some  marshy  fields,  and  wide  and  deep 
ditches,  filled  with  mud  and  water.  I  was  compelled  to  dismount 
in  order  to  cross  these  obstacles,  which  were  gallantly  overcome  by 
the  troops,  when  the  whole  force  gained  the  main  causeway ;  at 
which  place  I  met  General  Worth,  with  the  advance  of  his  division, 
moving  upon  the  same  work.  It  was  then  proposed  that  our  united 
divisions  should  move  on  to  the  assault  of  the  strong  tete  du  pont, 
which,  with  its  heavy  artillery,  enfiladed  the  causeway.  This  being 
determined  upon,  the  troops  of  the  two  divisions  moved  rapidly  to 
attack  the  work  on  its  left  flank,  and,  notwithstanding  the  deadly  fire 


SKETCH   OF   HIS    EARLY   HISTORY.  83 

of  grape  and  round-shot  from  the  work,  which  swept  the  roadway 
with  furious  violence,  on  and  onward  these  gallant  and  noble  troops 
moved  with  impetuous  valour,  and  terrible  and  long  was  the  bloody 
conflict.  But  the  result  could  not  be  doubted.  At  length  the  loud 
and  enthusiastic  cheer  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  soldier  told  that  all  was 
well,  and  the  American  colours  moved  in  triumph  over  the  bloody 
scene."  General  Pillow,  as  we  have  seen,  was  concerned  in  the 
storming  of  Chapultepec.  On  the  14th,  he  entered  with  the  army 
into  the  Mexican  capital.* 

*  The  General's  father,  Gideon  Pillow,  was  born  in  Rockingham  County, 
N.  C.,  September  24th,  1774.  He  was  the  second  son  of  John  and  Ursula 
Johnson  Pillow,  who,  in  1789,  removed  from  North  Carolina  to  Davidson 
County,  Ten.,  and  settled  temporarily  with  his  family  at '  John  Brown's,'  a 
thin  frontier  station  four  miles  south  of  Nashville.  He  was  killed  in  the 
fall  of  1790,  leaving  William  and  Gideon  to  protect  six  younger  brothers 
and  sisters.  These  young  men,  one  or  both  of  them,  went  upon  almost 
every  excursion  sent  from  Davidson  County  against  the  savages  from  1789 
to  1794.  In  the  latter  year  the  Indians  discontinued  their  annoyances. 
Both  fought  bravely  at  Nickojack.  William  was  colonel  of  a  regiment 
under  General  Jackson  in  the  late  Creek  war,  and  was  shot  through 
the  body  at  Talladega,  whilst  pursuing  the  enemy.  He  now  resides  on 
his  farm  in  Maury  County.  Gideon  was  a  farmer  and  landdealer,  but 
died  from  home  (Madison  Co.,  Ten.),  February  26th,  1830,  leaving  three 
sons  and  three  daughters. 

The  General  was  born  June  10th,  1806,  in  Williamson  County,  Ten.  He 
graduated  (Oct.,  1827)  at  the  University  of  Nashville,  and  studied  law  at 
Columbia,  under  Judge  Kennedy.  Admitted  to  the  bar  in  October,  1829, 
he  became  distinguished,  and  acquired  extensive  practice.  As  an  advocate 
he  was  forcible  and  eloquent,  prompt  in  action,  and  indomitable  in  per 
severance.  General  Pillow  was  a  member  of  the  National  Democratic 
Convention,  held  in  Baltimore  in  1844,  but  has  never  filled  any  other  pub 
lic  station,  preferring  the  enjoyment  of  his  ample  fortune  in  the  domestic 
circle  to  the  cares  of  politics.  On  the  24th  of  March,  1831,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Martin,  by  whom  he  has  seven  children;  and  about  the  same  time 
was  appointed  by  General  Carroll  Inspector-General  of  the  State  militia. 
General  Pillow  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Even  on  the 
battle-field,  the  Bible  is  constantly  found  in  his  tent,  and  its  pages  are 
perused  as  often  as  camp  duties  will  permit. 


MAJOK-GENERAL  QUITMAN. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  JOHN  A.  QUITMAN,  like  his  fellow  officer,  Pillow, 
has  but  recently  entered  upon  active  service.  He  served  as  a  volun 
teer  at  Monterey,  and  was  appointed  to  the  regular  army,  April 
14th,  1847,  from  Mississippi,  although  New  York  is  his  native  state. 

The  following  detailed  report  is  a  complete  description  of  the  ser 
vices  of  his  brigade  at  Monterey  : — 

"  Being  ordered,  on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  to  relieve  Colonel 
Garland's  command,  which  had,  during  the  preceding  night,  occu 
pied  the  redoubt  and  fortifications  taken  on  the  21st,  my  command 
marched  from  their  encampment  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
Colonel  Campbell,  of  the  Tennessee  regiment,  being  indisposed  from 
the  fatigue  and  exposure  of  the  preceding  day,  the  command  of  his 
regiment  devolved  on  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson.  Both  regi 
ments  were  much  reduced  by  the  casualties  of  the  twenty -first, 
and  the  necessary  details  for  the  care  of  the  wounded.  The  march 
necessarily  exposed  the  brigade  for  a  short  distance  to  a  severe  fire 
of  artillery  from  the  works  still  in  possession  of  the  enemy  on  this 
side  of  the  city,  and  from  the  cross-fire  of  the  citadel.  We  were 
not  allowed  to  reach  our  post  without  some  loss.  Private  Dubois, 
of  Captain  Crump's  company  of  Mississippi  riflemen,  was  killed, 
and  two  men  of  the  same  company  wounded,  before  entering  the 
works.  The  redoubt  and  adjacent  works  being  occupied  by  my 
brigade,  and  Lieutenant  Ridgely's  battery,  a  portion  of  the  troops 
were  engaged,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Scarritt,  of 
engineers,  in  strengthening  our  position  on  the  side  next  to  town. 

"At  intervals  during  the  whole  day,  until  nine  o'clock  at  night, 

the  enemy  kept  up  from  their  fortifications,  and  from  the  citadel, 

discharges  of  shell,  round  shot,  and  grape.     It  was  in  the  forenoon 

of  this  day,  that,  by  the  aid  of  our  glasses,  we  were  presented  with 

(84) 


QUITMAN    AT   MONTEREY.  85 

a  full  view  of  the  storming  of  the  Bishop's  palace  by  troops  under 
General  Worth  on  the  heights  beyond  the  city.  The  shout  by 
which  our  brave  volunteers  greeted  the  display  of  the  American 
flag  on  the  palace,  was  returned  by  the  enemy  from  their  works 
near  us  by  a  tremendous  fire  of  round  shot  and  grape  upon  us  with 
out  effect.  During  the  day,  plans  of  assault  on  the  adjacent  Mexi 
can  works  were  considered  of,  but  in  the  evening  my  attention  was 
drawn  to  a  line  of  about  fifteen  hundred  Mexican  infantry  at  some 
distance  in  rear  of  their  works.  The  presence  of  this  force,  amount 
ing  to  nearly  three  times  our  effective  numbers,  and  which  appeared 
to  be  posted  for  the  protection  of  the  works,  induced  me  to  give  up 
all  idea  of  forcing  the  works  without  reinforcements.  During  the 
night  several  reconnoissances  were  made  with  details  of  Captain 
Whitfield's  company,  in  the  direction  of  the  redoubt « El  Diablo.' 
Frequent  signals  between  the  different  posts  of  the  enemy  during 
the  night  kept  us  on  the  alert ;  and  at  the  first  dawn  of  day  on  the 
23d,  it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  abandoned,  or  were 
abandoning,  the  strong  works  nearest  to  us.  Colonel  Davis,  with  a 
portion  of  his  command,  supported  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson, 
with  two  companies  of  the  Tennessee  regiment,  was  ordered  to  take 
possession  of  the  works.  This  was  promptly  done.  The  enemy 
had  withdrawn  their  artillery  during  the  night,  and  nothing  of  value 
fell  into  our  hands  but  some  prisoners  and  ammunition.  From  this 
work,  which  commanded  a  view  of  the  cathedral,  and  a  portion  of 
the  great  plaza  of  the  city,  we  perceived  another  half-moon  or  tri 
angular  redoubt  in  advance  of  us,  and  on  our  right,  which  appeared 
to  be  immediately  connected  with  heavy  stone  buildings  and  walls 
adjoining  the  block  of  the  city.  Having  reported  my  observations 
to  the  commanding  general,  who  had  approached  the  field  of  our 
operations,  I  received  permission  to  advance  upon  the  defences  of 
the  city  in  this  direction,  and,  if  deemed  practicable,  to  occupy  them. 
It  was  sufficiently  apparent  that  all  the  approaches  to  the  city  on 
this  side  were  strongly  fortified.  Wishing  to  proceed  with  caution, 
under  the  qualified  permission  of  the  commanding  general,  I  sent 
out  a  party  of  riflemen,  under  Lieutenant  Graves,  to  reconnoitre, 
supporting  them  at  some  distance  by  a  company  of  Tennessee  in 
fantry,  under  Captain  McMurray.  Some  active  movements  of  the 
enemy  in  the  vicinity  induced  me  to  halt  this  party,  and  to  order  out 
Colonel  Davis,  with  two  companies  of  his  command,  and  two  com- 
8  i 


86  MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

panies  of  Tennessee  troops,  to  advance  on  these  works.  As  the 
troops  advanced,  armed  men  were  seen  flying  at  their  approach. 
Upon  reaching  the  redoubt  which  had  attracted  our  attention,  we 
perceived  that  it  was  open,  and  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy 
from  the  stone  buildings  and  walls  in  the  rear.  It  was,  therefore, 
necessary  to  select  another  position  less  exposed.  Posting  the  two 
companies  of  infantry,  in  a  position  to  defend  the  lodgement  we  had 
effected,  I  directed  Colonel  Davis  to  post  his  command  as  he  might 
deem  most  advantageous  for  defence  or  active  operations,  intending 
here  to  await  further  orders  or  reinforcements.  In  reconnoitring 
the  place,  several  shots  were  fired  at  Colonel  Davis  by  the  enemy, 
and  several  files  of  the  riflemen  who  had  advanced  to  the  slope  of  a 
breastwork,  (No.  1,)  which  had  been  thrown  across  the  street  for 
the  defence  of  the  city,  returned  the  fire.  A  volley  from  the  enemy 
succeeded.  Our  party  having  been  reinforced  by  additions  from 
the  riflemen  and  infantry,  a  brisk  firing  was  soon  opened  on  both 
sides,  the  enemy  from  the  house-tops  and  parapets  attempting  to 
drive  us  from  the  lodgement  we  had  effected.  A  considerable  body 
of  the  enemy,  securely  posted  on  the  top  of  a  large  building  on  our 
left,  which  partially  overlooked  the  breastwork,  No.  1,  continued  to 
pour  in  their  fire,  and  killed  private.  Tyree,  of  company  K,  whose 
gallant  conduct  at  the  breastwork  had  attracted  the  attention  of  both 
his  colonel  and  myself.  From  this  commencement,  in  a  short  time 
the  action  became  general.  The  enemy  appearing  to  be  in  great 
force,  and  firing  upon  our  troops  from  every  position  of  apparent 
security,  I  despatched  my  aid,  Lieutenant  Nichols,  with  orders  to 
advance  the  whole  of  my  brigade  which  could  be  spared  from  the 
redoubts  occupied  by  us.  A  portion  of  the  Mississippi  regiment, 
under  Major  Bradford,  advanced  to  the  support  of  the  troops  en 
gaged,  but  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson,  with  a  part  of  the  Ten 
nessee  regiment,  was  required  to  remain  for  the  protection  of  the 
redoubts  in  our  possession.  With  this  additional  force  more  active 
operations  upon  the  city  were  begun.  Detachments  of  our  troops 
advanced,  penetrating  into  buildings  and  occupying  the  flat  roofs  of 
houses,  and  by  gradual  approaches,  driving  the  enemy  back.  They 
had  been  engaged  more  than  an  hour,  when  they  were  reinforced 
by  a  detachment  of  dismounted  Texan  rangers,  commanded  by 
General  Henderson,  with  whose  active  and  effectual  co-operations 
the  attack  upon  the  city  was  gradually,  but  successfully  prosecuted. 


QUITMAN   AT   MONTEREY.  87 

Buildings,  streets,  and  courts  were  occupied  by  our  troops  without 
much  loss,  until,  after  being  engaged  for  about  five  hours,  having 
advanced  within  less  than  two  squares  of  the  great  plaza,  apprehen 
sive  that  we  might  fall  under  the  range  of  our  own  artillery,  which 
had  been  brought  up  to  our  support,  and  our  ammunition  being 
nearly  exhausted,  active  operations  were  ordered  to  cease  until  the 
effect  of  the  batteries,  which  had  been  brought  forward  into  one  of 
the  principal  streets,  could  be  seen. 

"  It  being  found  that  the  barricades  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
plaza  were  too  strong  to  be  battered  down  by  our  light  artillery,  the 
commanding  general,  who  had  taken  position  in  the  city,  ordered 
the  troops  gradually  and  slowly  to  retire  to  the  defences  taken  in  the 
morning.  This  was  done  in  good  order,  the  enemy  firing  occasion 
ally  upon  us,  but  not  venturing  to  take  possession  of  the  part  of  the 
town  we  had  occupied.  Our  forces  had  scarcely  retired  from  their 
advanced  position  in  the  city,  when  we  heard  the  commencement 
of  the  attack  of  the  division  under  General  Worth  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  town.  The  force  under  my  command  had  been  en 
gaged  from  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  three  P.  M.  It  should 
be  recorded,  to  the  credit  of  the  volunteer  troops,  that  the  greater 
portion  of  them  had  been  without  sustenance  since  the  morning  of 
the  22d,  and  exposed  throughout  the  very  inclement  and  rainy  night 
of  the  22d,  to  severe  duty,  without  blankets  or  overcoats,  and  yet 
not  a  murmur  was  heard  among  them — their  alacrity  remained  un 
abated  to  the  last  moment.  The  character  of  this  affair,  the  troops 
being  necessarily  separated  into  many  small  parties,  gave  frequent 
occasion  to  the  exhibition  of  individual  courage  and  daring.  The 
instances  occurred  so  frequently,  in  which  both  officers  and  men 
distinguished  themselves,  that  to  recount  those  which  fell  under  my 
own  observation,  or  which  were  brought  to  my  notice  by  officers, 
would  extend  this  report  to  an  improper  length.  It  is  my  duty  and 
pleasure  to  mention  the  fact,  that  the  veteran,  General  Lamar,  of 
Texas,  joined  my  command  as  a  volunteer  in  the  commencement 
of  the  attack  on  the  city,  and  by  his  counsel  and  example  aided  and 
encouraged  the  troops.  Major  E.  R.  Price,  of  Natchez,  and  Cap 
tain  J.  R.  Smith,  of  Louisiana,  both  from  the  recently  disbanded 
Louisiana  troops,  acted  with  distinguished  bravery  as  volunteers  in 
Colonel  Davis's  regiment." 

General  Gluitman  performed  much  laborious  service  before  Vera 


88  MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

Cruz,  but  was  not  in  the  battle  of  Sierra  Gordo.  But  his  mili 
tary  fame  rests  principally  upon  the  battles  before  the  Mexican 
capital.  In  these  he  has  wrought  himself  an  undying  reputation, 
which  has  placed  him  before  our  people  as  one  of  the  ablest  of 
their  commanders.  He  accompanied  the  army  in  its  march  from 
Puebla  toward  the  capital,  but  was  not  actively  concerned  in  the 
battles  of  the  19th  and  20th  of  August.  He  was  one  of  the  com 
missioners  who  negotiated  the  armistice,  and  on  the  recommence 
ment  of  hostilities,  was  in  continued  action  until  the  fall  of  the 
capital.  His  report  is  as  follows :  — 

"  The  general-in-chief,  having  concluded  to  carry  the  strong  for 
tress  of  Chapul tepee,  and  through  it  advance  upon  the  city,  ordered 
me,  on  the  llth,  to  move  my  division,  after  dark,  from  its  position 
at  Coyoacan  to  Tacubaya.  *  *  *  * 

"  Two  batteries  had  been  erected  during  the  night.  My  division 
being  intended  to  support  these  batteries,  and  to  advance  to  the 
attack  by  the  direct  road  from  Tacubaya  to  the  fortress,  was  placed 
in  position  near  battery  No.  1,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  — 
detachments  from  its  left  extending  to  the  support  of  battery  No.  2. 
At  seven  o'clock,  the  guns  —  two  sixteen-pounders  and  an  eight- 
inch  howitzer  —  were  placed  in  battery  No.  1,  in  position  so 
as  to  rake  the  road,  sweep  the  adjoining  grounds,  and  have 
a  direct  fire  upon  the  enemy's  batteries  and  the  fortress  of  Chapul- 
tepec. 

"Our  fire  was  then  opened  and  maintained  with  good  effect 
throughout  the  day,  under  the  direction  of  that  excellent  and 
lamented  officer,  Captain  Drum,  of  the  4th  artillery,  zealously  aided 
by  Lieutenants  Benjamin  and  Porter,  of  his  company.  The  fire 
was  briskly  returned  from  the  castle  with  round  shot,  shells  and 
grape.  During  the  day,  I  succeeded,  under  cover  of  our  batteries, 
in  making  an  important  reconnoissance  of  the  grounds  and  works 
immediately  at  the  base  of  the  castle,  a  rough  sketch  of  which  was 
made  by  my  aid,  Lieutenant  Lovel,  on  the  ground.  This  disclosed 
to  us  two  batteries  of  the  enemy  —  one  on  the  road  in  front  of  us, 
mounting  four  guns,  and  the  other  a  flanking  work  of  one  gun,  ca 
pable  also  of  sweeping  the  low  grounds  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and 
between  it  and  the  base  of  the  hill. 

"  The  supporting  party  on  this  reconnoissance  was  commanded 
by  the  late  Major  Twiggs,  of  the  marines,  and  sustained  during  the 


STORMING   OF    CHAPULTEPEC.  89 

observation  a  brisk  fire  from  the  batteries  and  small  arms  of  the 
enemy,  who,  when  the  party  were  retiring,  came  out  of  the  works 
in  large  numbers;  and  although  repeatedly  checked  by  the  fire  of 
our  troops,  continued  to  advance  as  the  supporting  party  retired, 
until  they  were  dispersed,  with  considerable  loss,  by  several  dis 
charges  of  canister  from  the  guns  of  Captain  Drum's  battery,  and  a 
well-directed  fire  from  the  right  of  the  2d  Pennsylvania  regiment, 
posted  on  the  flank  of  the  battery  for  its  support.  Our  loss  in  this 
affair  was  seven  men  wounded  ;  but  the  information  gained  was  of 
incalculable  advantage  to  the  operations  of  the  succeeding  day.  In 
the  evening,  Captain  Drum's  company  was  relieved  by  Lieutenant 
Andrews'  company,  3d  artillery,  by  whom  a  steady  and  well-directed 
fire  was  kept. up  from  the  battery,  until  the  fortress  could  no  longer 
be  seen  in  the  darkness.  During  the  day,  my  command  was  rein 
forced  by  a  select  battalion  from  General  Twiggs'  division,  intended 
as  a  storming  party,  consisting  of  thirteen  officers  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men  and  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  chosen 
for  this  service  out  of  the  rifles,  1st  and  4th  regiments  of  artillery, 
and  the  2d,  3d,  and  7th  regiments  of  infantry  —  all  under  the  com 
mand  of  Captain  Silas  Casey,  2d  infantry. 

"  Having  received  instructions  from  the  general-in-chief  to  pre 
vent,  if  possible,  reinforcements  from  being  thrown  into  Chapultepec 
during  the  night,  Captain  Paul  of  the  7th  infantry,  with  a  detach 
ment  of  fifty  men,  was  directed  to  establish  an  advanced  picket  on 
the  road  to  Chapultepec.  During  the  night  a  brisk  skirmish  oc 
curred  between  this  detachment  and  the  advanced  posts  of  the 
enemy,  which  resulted  in  driving  back  the  enemy  ;  but,  apprehen 
sive  that  this  demonstration  was  intended  to  cover  the  passage  of 
reinforcements  into  Chapultepec,  I  ordered  Lieutenant  Andrews  to 
advance  a  piece  of  artillery  and  rake  the  road  with  several  discharges 
of  canister.  This  was  promptly  executed,  and  during  the  remainder 
of  the  night  there  were  no  appearances  of  movements  in  the  enemy's 
lines.  During  the  night,  the  platforms  of  battery  No.  1  were  repaired, 
under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Tower,  of  engineers,  who  had  re 
ported  to  me  for  duty,  and  a  new  battery  for  one  gun  established  in 
advance  of  No.  1  a  short  distance,  by  Lieutenant  Hammond,  of 
General  Shields'  staff. 

"  The  protection  of  battery  No.  2,  which  was  completed  on  the 
morning  of  the  12th,  under  direction  of  Captain  Huger,  was  in 
8*  1 2 


90  MAJOR-GENERAL    QUITMAN. 

trusted  to  Brigadier-General  Shields.  This  battery,  after  the  guns 
had  been  placed,  opened  and  maintained  a  steady  fire  upon  the 
castle,  under  the  skilful  direction  of  that  experienced  officer,  Lieu 
tenant  Hagner,  of  ordnance. 

"  At  dawn,  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  batteries  again  open 
ed  an  active  and  effective  fire  upon  the  castle,  which  was  returned 
by  the  enemy  with  spirit  and  some  execution,  disabling  for  a  time 
the  eighteen-pounder  in  battery  No.  1,  and  killing  one  of  the  men 
at  the  guns. 

"  During  this  cannonade,  active  preparations  were  made  for  the 
assault  upon  the  castle.  Ladders,  pickaxes,  and  crows  were  placed 
in  the  hands  of  a  pioneer  storming  party  of  select  men  from  the  vo 
lunteer  division,  under  command  of  Captain  Reynolds  of  the  marine 
corps,  to  accompany  the  storming  party  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
men,  which  had  been  selected  from  all  corps  of  the  same  division, 
and  placed  under  the  command  of  Major  Twiggs,  of  the  marines. 
Captain  Drum  had  again  relieved  Lieutenant  Andrews  at  the  guns, 
retaining  from  the  command  of  the  latter  Sergeant  Davidson  and 
eight  men  to  man  an  eight-pounder,  which  it  was  intended  to  carry 
forward  to  operate  on  the  enemy's  batteries  in  front  of  us ;  and,  to 
relieve  the  command  from  all  danger  of  attack  on  our  right  flank 
from  reinforcements  which  might  come  from  the  city,  that  well-tried 
and  accomplished  officer,  Brevet  Brigadier-General  Smith,  with  his 
well-disciplined  brigade,  had  reported  to  me  for  orders.  He  was 
instructed  to  move  in  reserve  on  the  right  flank  of  the  assaulting 
column,  protect  it  from  skirmishers,  or  more  serious  attack  in  that 
quarter ;  and,  if  possible,  on  the  assault,  cross  the  aqueduct  leading 
to  the  city,  turn  the  enemy,  and  cut  off  his  retreat.  Those  disposi 
tions  being  made,  the  whole  command,  at  the  signal  preconcerted 
by  the  general-in-chief,  with  enthusiasm  and  full  of  confidence  ad 
vanced  to  the  attack.  At  the  base  of  the  hill,  constituting  a  part  of 
the  works  of  the  fortress  of  Chapultepec,  and  directly  across  our  line 
of  advance,  were  the  strong  batteries  before  described,  flanked  on 
the  right  by  some  strong  buildings,  and  by  a  heavy  stone  wall  about 
fifteen  feet  high,  which  extended  around  the  base  of  the  hill  towards 
the  west.  Within  two  hundred  yards  of  these  batteries  were  some 
dilapidated  buildings,  which  afforded  a  partial  cover  to  our  advance. 
Between  these  and  the  wall  extended  a  low  meadow,  the  long  grass 
of  which  concealed  a  number  of  wet  ditches  by  which  it  was  inter- 


STORMING    OF    CHAPULTEPEC.  91 

sected.  To  this  point  the  command,  partially  screened,  advanced 
by  a  flank,  the  storming  parties  in  front,  under  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  fortress,  the  batteries,  and  breastworks  of  the  enemy.  The  ad 
vance  was  here  halted  under  the  partial  cover  of  the  ruins,  and  upon 
the  arrival  of  the  heads  of  the  South  Carolina  and  New  York  regi 
ments,  respectively,  General  Shields  was  directed  to  move  them 
obliquely  to  the  left,  across  the  low  ground,  to  the  wall  at  the  base 
of  the  hill.  Encouraged  by  the  gallant  general  who  had  led  them 
to  victory  at  Churubusco,  and  in  spite  of  the  obstacles  which  they 
had  to  encounter  in  wading  through  several  deep  ditches,  exposed 
to  a  severe  and  galling  fire  from  the  enemy,  these  tried  regiments 
promptly  executed  the  movement,  and  effected  a  lodgement  at  the 
wall.  The  same  order  was  given  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Geary,  and 
executed  by  his  regiment  with  equal  alacrity  and  success.  These 
dispositions,  so  necessary  to  the  final  assault  upon  the  works,  were 
not  made  without  some  loss.  In  directing  the  advance,  Brigadier- 
General  Shields  was  severely  wounded  in  the  arm.  No  persuasions, 
however,  could  induce  that  officer  to  leave  his  command,  or  quit  the 
field.  The  brave  Captain  Van  O'Linden,  of  the  New  York  regi 
ment,  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his  company.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Baxter,  of  the  same  regiment,  a  valuable  and  esteemed  officer,  while 
gallantly  leading  his  command,  fell  mortally  wounded  near  the  wall. 
And  Lieutenant-Colonel  Geary,  2d  Pennsylvania  regiment,  was  for 
a  time  disabled  from  command  by  a  severe  contusion  from  a  spent 
ball. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  Brigadier-General  Smith  on  our  right  was 
driving  back  skirmishing  parties  of  the  enemy ;  Lieutenant  Benja 
min,  from  battery  No.  1,  was  pouring  shot  after  shot  into  the  fortress 
and  woods  on  the  slope  of  the  hill ;  and  Lieutenant  H.  J.  Hunt,  2d 
artillery,  who  had  on  the  advance  reported  to  me  with  a  section  of 
Duncan's  battery,  had  obtained  a  favourable  position  in  our  rear, 
from  which  he  threw  shells  and  shrapnal  shot  into  the  Mexican  lines 
with  good  effect.  Perceiving  that  all  the  preliminary  dispositions 
were  made,  Major  Gladden,  with  his  regiment,  having  passed  the 
wall  by  breaching  it,  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  regiments 
having  entered  over  an  abandoned  battery  on  their  left,  and  the  bat 
talion  of  marines  being  posted  to  support  the  storming  parties,  I  or 
dered  the  assault  at  all  points. 

"  The  storming  parties,  Jed  by  the  gallant  officers  who  had  volun- 


92  MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

teered  for  this  desperate  service,  rushed  forward  like  a  resistless 
tide.  The  Mexicans  behind  their  batteries  and  breastworks  stood 
with  more  than  usual  firmness.  For  a  short  time  the  contest  was 
hand-to-hand;  swords  and  bayonets  were  crossed,  and  rifles  clubbed. 
Resistance,  however,  was  vain  against  the  desperate  valour  of  our 
brave  troops.  The  batteries  and  strong  works  were  carried,  and  the 
ascent  of  Chapultepec  on  that  side  laid  open  to  an  easy  conquest. 
In  these  works  were  taken  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  one  thousand 
muskets,  and  five  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  —  of  whom  one  hun 
dred  were  officers  —  among  them,  one  general  and  ten  colonels. 

"  The  gallant  Captain  Casey  having  been  disabled  by  a  severe 
wound,  directly  before  the  batteries,  the  command  of  the  storming 
party  of  regulars  in  ihe  assault  devolved  on  Captain  Paul,  7th  in 
fantry,  who  distinguished  himself  for  his  bravery.  In  like  manner 
the  command  of  the  storming  party  from  the  volunteer  division  de 
volved  on  Captain  James  Miller,  of  the  2d  Pennsylvania  regiment, 
by  the  death  of  its  chief,  the  brave  and  lamented  Major  Twiggs, 
of  the  marine  corps,  who  fell  on  the  first  advance  at  the  head  of  his 
command. 

"  Simultaneously  with  these  movements  on  our  right,  the  volun 
teer  regiments,  with  equal  alacrity  and  intrepidity,  animated  by  a 
generous  emulation,  commenced  the  ascent  of  the  hill  on  the  south 
side.  Surmounting  every  obstacle,  and  fighting  their  way,  they 
fell  in  and  mingled  with  their  brave  brethren  in  arms,  who  formed 
the  advance  of  Major-General  Pillow's  column.  Side  by  side, 
amid  the  storm  of  battle,  the  rival  colours  of  the  two  commands 
struggled  up  the  steep  ascent,  entered  the  fortress,  and  reached  the 
buildings  used  as  a  military  college,  which  crowned  its  summit. 
Here  was  a  short  pause  ;  but  soon  the  flag  of  Mexico  was  lowered, 
and  the  stars  and  stripes  of  our  country  floated  from  the  heights  of 
Cbapultepec,  high  above  the  heads  of  the  brave  men  who  had 
planted  them  there.  The  gallant  New  York  regiment  claims  for 
their  standard  the  honour  of  being  the  first  waved  from  the  battle 
ments  of  Cbapultepec.  The  veteran  Mexican  general,  Bravo,  with 
a  number  of  officers  and  men,  were  taken  prisoners  in  the  castle. 
They  fell  into  the  hands  of  Lieutenant  Charles  Brower,  of  the  New 
York  regiment,  who  reported  them  to  me.  The  loss  of  the  enemy 
was  severe,  especially  on  the  eastern  side,  adjoining  the  batteries 
taken.  It  should  also  be  mentioned,  that,  at  the  assault  upon  the 


ADVANCE   ON   THE    CAPITAL.  93 

works,  Lieutenant  Frederick  Steele,  2d  infantry,  with  a  portion  of 
the  storming  party,  advanced  in  front  of  the  batteries  towards  the 
left,  there  scaled  the  outer  wall  through  a  breach  near  the  top,  made 
by  a  cannon-shot,  ascended  the  hill  directly  in  his  front,  and  was 
among  the  first  upon  the  battlements.  The  young  and  promising 
Lieutenant  Levi  Gantt,  7th  infantry,  was  of  this  party.  He  had 
actively  participated  in  almost  every  battle  since  the  opening  of  the 
war,  but  was  destined  here  to  find  a  soldier's  grave. 

"  After  giving  the  necessary  directions  for  the  safe-keeping  of  the 
prisoners  taken  by  my  command,  and  ordering  the  several  corps  to 
form  near  the  aqueduct,  I  hastily  ascended  the  hill,  for  the  purpose 
of  reconnoitring  the  positions  of  the  enemy  in  advance  towards  the 
city.  I  there  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Major-General  Pillow, 
who,  although  seriously  wounded,  had  been  carried  to  the  heights 
to  enjoy  the  triumph  in  which  he  and  his  brave  troops  had  so  largely 
shared. 

"  Perceiving  large  bodies  of  the  enemy  at  the  several  batteries  on 
the  direct  road  leading  from  Chapultepec  to  the  city,  by  the  garita 
or  gate  of  Belen,  my  whole  command,  after  being  supplied  with 
ammunition,  was  ordered  to  be  put  in  readiness  to  march  by  that 
route.  When  the  batteries  were  taken,  the  gallant  rifle  regiment, 
which  had  been  deployed  by  General  Smith  on  the  right  of  his  bri 
gade,  formed  under  the  arches  of  the  aqueduct  in  position  to  ad 
vance  by  the  Chapultepec  or  Tacubaya  road.  As  the  remainder 
of  General  Smith's  brigade  came  up  from  their  position  in  reserve, 
that  officer,  with  his  usual  foresight,  caused  them  to  level  the  para 
pets  and  fill  the  ditches  which  obstructed  the  road  where  the  enemy's 
batteries  had  been  constructed,  so  as  to  permit  the  passage  of  the 
heavy  artillery,  which  was  ordered  up  by  the  general-in-chief  im 
mediately  upon  his  arrival  at  the  batteries.  In  the  mean  time, 
while  General  Shields,  with  the  assistance  of  his  and  my  staff  offi 
cers,  was  causing  the  deficient  ammunition  to  be  supplied,  and  the 
troops  to  be  formed  for  the  advance,  Captain  Drum,  supported  by 
the  rifle  regiment,  had  taken  charge  of  one  of  the  enemy's  pieces, 
and  was  advancing  towards  the  first  battery  occupied  by  the  enemy, 
on  the  road  towards  the  city  in  our  front. 

"The  Chapultepec  road  is  a  broad  av§nue,  flanked  with  deep 
ditches  and  marshy  grounds  on  either  side.  Along  the  middle  of 
this  avenue  runs  the  aqueduct,  supported  by  arches  of  heavy  ma- 


94  MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

sonry,  through  the  garita  or  gate  of  Belen  into  the  city.  The  rifles, 
supported  by  the  South  Carolina  regiment,  and  followed  by  the  re 
mainder  of  Smith's  brigade,  were  now  advanced,  from  arch  to  arch, 
towards  another  strong  battery  which  had  been  thrown  across  the 
road,  about  a  mile  from  Chapultepec,  having  four  embrasures  with 
a  redan  work  on  the  right. 

"  At  this  point,  the  enemy  in  considerable  force  made  an  obstinate 
resistance ;  but,  with  the  aid  of  the  effective  fire  of  an  eight-inch 
howitzer,  directed  by  the  indefatigable  Captain  Drum,  and  the  daring 
bravery  of  the  gallant  rifle  regiment,  it  was  carried  by  assault.  The 
column  was  here  reorganized  for  an  attack  upon  the  batteries  at  the 
garita  of  the  city.  The  regiment  of  riflemen,  intermingled  with 
the  bayonets  of  the  South  Carolina  regiment,  were  placed  in  the 
advance — three  rifles  and  three  bayonets  under  each  arch.  They 
were  supported  by  the  residue  of  Shields'  brigade,  the  2d  Pennsyl 
vania  regiment,  and  the  remainder  of  Smith's  brigade,  together  with 
a  part  of  the  6lh  infantry,  under  Major  Bonneville,  who  had  fallen 
into  this  road.  In  this  order,  the  column  resolutely  advanced  from 
arch  to  arch  of  the  aqueduct,  under  a  tremendous  fire  of  artillery 
and  small  arms  from  the  batteries  at  the  garita,  the  Paseo,  and  a 
large  body  of  the  enemy  on  the  Piedad  road  to  the  right,  extending 
from  the  left  of  the  garita. 

"Lieutenant  Benjamin  having  brought  up  a  sixteen-pounder, 
Captain  Drum  and  his  efficient  subalterns  were  pouring  a  constant 
and  destructive  fire  into  the  garita.  As  the  enfilading  fire  of  the 
enemy  from  the  Piedad  road  became  very  annoying  to  the  advance 
of  the  column,  a  few  rounds  of  canister  were  thrown  by  our  artil 
lery  in  that  direction,  which  effectually  dispersed  them.  The  whole 
column  was  now  under  a  galling  fire,  but  it  continued  to  move  for 
ward  steadily  and  firmly.  The  rifles,  well  sustained  by  the  South 
Carolinians,  gallantly  pushed  on  to  the  attack ;  and  at  twenty  mi 
nutes  past  one  the  garita  was  carried,  and  the  city  of  Mexico  entered 
at  that  point.  In  a  few  moments  the  whole  command  was  com 
pactly  up — a  large  part  of  it  within  the  garila. 

"  The  obstinacy  of  the  defence  at  the  garita  may  be  accounted 
for  by  our  being  opposed  at  that  point  by  General  Santa  Anna  in 
person,  who  is  said  to  have  retreated  by  the  Paseo  to  the  San  Cosme 
road,  there  to  try  his  fortune  against  General  Worth. 

"  On  our  approach  to  the  garita,  a  body  of  the  enemy  who  were 


GARITA  OF  BELEN  CARRIED.  95 

seen  on  a  cross  road  threatening  our  left,  were  dispersed  by  a  brisk 
fire  of  artillery  from  the  direction  of  the  San  Cosme  road.  I  take 
pleasure  in  acknowledging  that  this  seasonable  aid  came  from  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Duncan's  battery,  which  had  been  kindly  advanced 
from  the  San  Cosme  road  in  that  direction  by  General  Worth's 
orders. 

"  Upon  the  taking  of  the  garita,  the  riflemen  and  South  Caro 
lina  regiment  rushed  forward  and  occupied  the  arches  of  the  aque 
duct,  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  citadel.  The  ammunition  of 
our  heavy  guns  having  been  expended,  a  captured  eight-pounder 
was  turned  upon  the  enemy,  and  served  with  good  effect  until  the 
ammunition  taken  with  it  was  also  expended.  The  piece,  support 
ed  by  our  advance,  had  been  run  forward  in  front  of  the  garita. 
Twice  had  Major  Gladden,  of  the  South  Carolina  regiment,  furnish 
ed  additional  men  to  work  the  gun,  when  the  noble  and  brave  Cap 
tain  Drum,  who,  with  indomitable  energy  and  iron  nerve,  had  di 
rected  the  artillery  throughout  this  trying  day,  fell  mortally  wounded 
by  the  side  of  his  gun.  A  few  moments  afterwards,  Lieutenant 
Benjamin,  who  had  displayed  the  same  cool,  decided  courage,  met 
a  similar  fate. 

"  The  enemy,  now  perceiving  that  our  heavy  ammunition  had 
been  expended,  redoubled  their  exertions  to  drive  us  out  of  the 
lodgement  we  had  effected.  A  terrible  fire  of  artillery  and  small 
arms  was  opened  from  the  citadel,  three  hundred  yards  distant,  from 
the  batteries  on  the  Paseo,  and  the  buildings  on  our  right  in  front. 
Amid  this  iron  shower,  which  swept  the  road  on  both  sides  of  the 
aqueduct,  it  was  impossible  to  bring  forward  ammunition  for  our 
large  guns.  While  awaiting  the  darkness  to  bring  up  our  great 
guns  and  place  them  in  battery,  the  enemy,  under  cover  of  their 
guns,  attempted  several  sallies  from  the  citadel  and  buildings  on  the 
right,  but  were  readily  repulsed  by  the  skirmishing  parties  of  rifles 
and  infantry.  To  prevent  our  flank  from  being  enfiladed  by  mus 
ketry  from  the  Paseo,  Captains  Naylor  and  Loeser,  2d  Pennsyl 
vania  regiment,  were  ordered  with  their  companies  to  a  low  sand 
bag  defence,  about  a  hundred  yards  in  that  direction.  They  gallantly 
took  this  position,  and  held  it  in  the  face  of  a  severe  fire  until  the 
object  was  attained. 

"At  night  the  fire  of  the  enemy  ceased.  Lieutenant  Tower,  of 
the  engineers,  who  before  and  at  the  attack  upon  the  batteries  at 


96  MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

Chapultepec  had  given  important  aid,  had  been  seriously  wounded. 
It  was  therefore  fortunate  that,  in  the  commencement  of  the  route 
to  the  city,  Lieutenant  Beauregard,  of  engineers,  joined  me.  1  was 
enabled,  during  the  day,  to  avail  myself  of  his  valuable  services ; 
and,  although  disabled  for  a  time  by  a  wound  received  during  the 
day,  he  superintended,  during  the  whole  night,  the  erection  of  two 
batteries  within  the  garita  for  our  heavy  guns,  and  a  breastwork  on 
our  right  for  infantry,  which,  with  his  advice,  I  had  determined  to 
construct.  Before  the  dawn  of  day,  by  the  persevering  exertions 
of  Captains  Fairchild  and  Taylor,  of  the  New  York  regiment,  who 
directed  the  working  parties,  the  parapets  were  completed,  and  a 
twenty-four-pounder,  and  eighteen-pounder,  and  eight-inch  howitzer 
placed  in  battery  by  Captain  Steptoe,  3d  artillery,  who,  to  my  great 
satisfaction,  had  rejoined  my  command  in  the  evening.  The  heavy 
labour  required  to  construct  these  formidable  batteries,  under  the 
very  guns  of  the  citadel,  was  performed  with  the  utmost  cheerful 
ness  by  the  gallant  men  whose  strong  arms  and  stout  hearts  had  al 
ready  been  tested  in  two  days  of  peril  and  toil. 

"  During  the  night,  while  at  the  trenches,  Brigadier-General  Pierce 
— one  of  whose  regiments  (the  9th  infantry)  had  joined  my  column 
during  the  day — reported  to  me  in  person.  He  was  instructed  to 
place  that  regiment  in  reserve  at  the  battery  in  rear,  for  the  protec 
tion  of  Steptoe's  light  battery  and  the  ammunition  at  that  point. 
The  general  has  my  thanks  for  his  prompt  attention  to  these  orders. 

"At  dawn  of  day  on  the  14th,  when  Captain  Steptoe  was  pre 
paring  his  heavy  missiles,  a  white  flag  came  from  the  citadel,  the 
bearers  of  which  invited  me  to  take  possession  of  this  fortress,  and 
gave  me  the  intelligence  that  the  city  had  been  abandoned  by 
Santa  Anna  and  his  army.  My  whole  command  was  immediately 
ordered  under  arms.  By  their  own  request,  Lieutenants  Lovell  and 
Beauregard  were  authorized  to  go  to  the  citadel,  in  advance,  to  as 
certain  the  truth  of  the  information.  At  a  signal  from  the  ramparts, 
the  column,  General  Smith's  brigade  in  front,  and  the  South  Caro 
lina  regiment  left  in  garrison  at  the  garita,  marched  into  the  citadel. 
Having  taken  possession  of  this  work,  in  which  we  found  fifteen 
pieces  of  cannon  mounted  and  as  many  not  up,  with  the  extensive 
military  armaments  which  it  contained,  the  2d  Pennsylvania  regi 
ment  was  left  to  garrison  it.  Understanding  that  great  depredations 
were  going  on  in  the  palace  and  public  buildings,  I  moved  the 


APPOINTED   MILITARY   GOVERNOR.  97 

column  in  that  direction  in  the  same  order,  followed  by  Captain 
Steptoe's  light  battery,  through  the  principal  streets  into  the  great 
plaza,  where  it  was  formed  in  front  of  the  National  Palace.  Cap 
tain  Roberts,  of  the  rifle  regiment,  who  had  led  the  advance  com 
pany  of  the  storming  party  at  Chapultepec,  and  had  greatly  dis 
tinguished  himself  during  the  preceding  day,  was  detailed  by  me 
to  plant  th&  star-spangled  banner  of  our  country  upon  the  National 
Palace.  The  flag,  the  first  strange  banner  which  had  ever  waved 
over  that  palace  since  the  conquest  of  Cortez,  was  displayed  and 
saluted  with  enthusiasm  by  the  whole  command.  The  palace,  al 
ready  crowded  with  Mexican  thieves  and  robbers,  was  placed  in 
charge  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Watson,  with  his  battalion  of  marines. 
By  his  actives  exertions  it  was  soon  cleared  and  guarded  from  further 
spoliation. 

"  On  our  first  arrival  in  the  plaza,  Lieutenant  Beauregard  was 
dispatched  to  report  the  facts  to  the  general-in-chief,  who  was  ex 
pected  to  enter  the  city  by  the  Alameda,  with  the  column  under 
General  Worth.  About  eight  o'clock  the  general-in-chief  arrived 
in  the  plaza,  and  was  received  and  greeted  with  enthusiasm  by  the 
troops.  The  populace,  who  had  begun  to  be  turbulent  immediately 
after  our  arrival  in  the  plaza,  appeared  for  a  time  to  be  checked ; 
but,  in  one  hour  afterwards,  as  our  troops  began  to  disperse  for  quar 
ters,  they  were  fired  upon  from  the  tops  of  houses  and  windows. 
This  continued  that  day  and  the  succeeding,  until,  by  the  timely 
and  vigorous  measures  adopted  by  the  general-in-chief,  the  disturb 
ances  were  quelled." 

Here  follows  a  list  of  the  officers  who  particularly  distinguished 
themselves. 

After  the  surrender  of  the  city,  General  Scott  immediately  ho 
noured  Gluitman  with  the  appointment  of  military  governor.  His 
manly,  dignified  bearing,  won  the  approbation  of  both  friends  and 
enemies,  and  his  plan  of  administration  is  said  to  have  been  admi 
rable. 

In  November,  General  Quitman  obtained  leave  of  absence,  in 
order  to  revisit  the  United  States.  His  parting  on  that  occasion 
with  the  brave  men  in  Mexico  is  thus  described  by  an  eye-witness : 

"  The  officers  of  the  division  having  assembled  together,  visited 
General  Gluitman  in  a  body,  when  Colonel  Burnett,  ot  New  York, 
9  K 


98  MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

on  behalf  of  himself  and  brother  officers,  addressed  him  in  a  perti 
nent  speech,  the  conclusion  of  which  was  as  follows  : 

" '  We,  as  officers  of  your  division,  can  only  repay  you  upon  your 
sudden  departure  with  an  expression  of  our  feelings.  We  shall 
meet  you  again  after  the  war  as  fellow-citizens,  and  our  present 
sentiments  written  upon  our  hearts  as  upon  adamant,  will  lose  no 
thing  by  the  hand  of  time — uniting  then  with  a  gratified  people,  your 
present  sacrifices  may  be  somewhat  compensated  by  the  only  boon 
of  the  patriot — the  grateful  acknowledgments  of  your  country.  We 
shall  then  have  deposited  our  standards  with  the  authorities  of  our 
respective  states,  but  ever  ready  to  rally  under  our  victorious  ban 
ners  as  the  prestige  of  success,  and  ever  ready  to  be  directed  by  our 
gallant  general,  whom  we  now  part  with  as  a  father  and  a  friend.' 

"  This  speech  was  frequently  interrupted  by  the  company  pre 
sent,  who  expressed  their  approbation  of  the  sentiments  by  warm 
applause.  When  this  had  subsided,  General  Quitman  replied  in 
substance  as  follows : 

"  He  said  that  when  he  looked  around  him  and  found  himself  in 
the  presence  of  the  gallant  officers  who  had  participated  so  largely 
in  the  recent  brilliant  events  before  the  city,  and  heard  himself  ad 
dressed  by  the  senior  officer  of  the  division,  yet  leaning  upon  his 
honourable  crutch,  in  remarks  so  full  of  the  elegant  feeling  of  the 
heart,  he  was  overwhelmed  with  emotion,  and  felt  himself  wholly 
unable  to  do  justice  to  the  occasion.  Circumstances  had  rendered 
it  necessary  as  a  matter  of  high  duty  that  he  should  apply  to  the 
proper  authority  for  some  permanent  assignment  to  duty,  where  he 
might  be  best  enabled  to  serve  his  country.  Had  he  consulted  per 
sonal  feeling  merely,  he  would  have  been  gratified  to  remain  with 
the  brave  associates  of  his  cares,  his  perils  and  fortunes  in  war,  but 
he  regarded  it  the  soldier's  part  to  seek  the  path  where  duty  called 
him.  That  path  now  separated  him  from  the  gallant  officers  and 
men  to  whose  good  conduct  and  services  he  took  this  occasion  to 
say  he  felt  himself  wholly  indebted  for  whatever  reputation  or 
honour  he  might  have  acquired  in  this  campaign.  It  was  theirs, 
not  his.  They  were  entitled  to  his  regard,  his  esteem  and  his 
friendship.  He  would  bear  these  feelings  with  him  wherever  his 
lot  should  be  cast. 

"In  conclusion,  he  expressed  his  heartfelt  regret  at  his  separation 
from  them,  and  hoped  that  they  would  receive  for  themselves,  and 


RECEPTION    ON   ARRIVING   AT   NATCHEZ.  99 

bear  to  the  gallant  rank  and  file  under  their  commands,  his  friendly 
farewell. 

"After  General  Gtuitman  had  concluded,  Captain  Hutton,  of  the 
New  York  regiment,  rose  and  presented  Captain  G.  T.  M.  Davis 
an  elegant  pair  of  silver  spurs,  accompanying  the  gift  with  a  brief 
but  extremely  apropos  speech.  Captain  Davis  made  an  appropriate 
reply." 

The  following  is  a  description  of  the  festivities  attending  his  arri 
val  at  Natchez,  the  place  of  his  family  residence : 

"  Our  duitman  is  at  home  and  with  us ;  so  excuse  any  high- 
flown  exhibition  of  our  feelings  of  intense  pleasure,  pride,  and  tri 
umph.  Oh  !  had  you  been  here  but  yesterday  morning,  when  that 
veteran  cannoneer,  Captain  James  C.  Fox,  so  well  known  in  your 
« city  of  the  Delta'  as  one  of  the  most  accomplished  of  the  Natchez 
firemen,  let  off  those  loud-mouthed  Mexican  trophy-cannon,  captured 
at  Alvarado,  and  presented  to  General  duitman  with  the  permission 
of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  by  Commodore  Perry.  They  are 
two  long  twelves,  of  a  most  excellent  composition,  originally  in 
tended  for  bow-chasers  in  the  naval  service.  One  was  made  in 
Barcelona,  old  Spain,  in  1768,  and  bears  the  name  of  El  Sosto,  and 
the  other  the  name  of  El  Orion.  There  was  a  sublimity  in  making 
these  trophy-cannon  announce  that  the  hour  of  welcome  to  our  vic 
torious  general  had  come  ;  and  well  did  Fox  instruct  them  how  to 
roar  out  a  welcome  to  'the  free*  in  'the  home  of  the  brave.' 
General  Gluitman's  mansion,  called  'Monmouth,'  nestles  in  a  beau 
tiful  grove  in  the  environs  of  Natchez,  only  about  a  mile  from  the 
centre  of  the  city.  A  thrill  of  joy,  precious  as  love  and  the  idolatry 
of  the  affections  could  make  it,  must  have  pervaded  the  bosoms  of 
his  lovely  and  accomplished  family,  as  the  air  vibrated  around  their 
home  with  the  cannon-bursts,  and  the  swell  of  music  and  the  roar 
of  the  stirred  city  broke  upon  their  ears. 

"  Doctor  Blackburn,  a  noble-looking  and  chivalrous  Kentuckian, 
now  captain  of  the  'Natchez  Fencibles,'  was  the  chief  marshal, 
assisted  by  General  Smith,  Messrs.  Andrew  McCreery,  S.  Win 
ston,  and  General  R.  Stanton.  A  large  and  imposing  procession 
of  military,  led  by  the  renowned  'Kendall's  Brass  Band,  from 
*  Spalding's  monster  Circus,'  now  here,  the  masonic  fraternity,  sur 
vivors  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  invited  guests,  &c.,  was  soon  in 
motion  for  Monmouth,  where  they  received  Major-General  Gluitman 


100  MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

and  his  staff;  consisting  of  Major  E.  R.  Price,  of  the  2d  Mississippi 
rifles ;  Captain  Douglass  Cooper,  of  the  1st  Mississippi  rifles,  and 
Lieutenant  Keiger,  of  the  volunteers.  The  moment  of  the  move 
ment  of  the  procession  was  announced  by  Captain  R.  Fitzpatrick, 
from  a  new  brass  piece  of  state  artillery,  named  *  duitman,'  and 
carried  in  the  procession.  It  was  answered  by  Captain  Fox,  from 
his  stationary  battery  on  the  Esplanade,  who  kept  up  a  running 
cannon-accompaniment  during  the  whole  progress  to  the  city. 
When  the  procession  came  proudly  down  Main  street  and  halted 
opposite  the  City  Hotel,  the  coup  d'ceil  was  most  imposing  —  ban 
ners  waved  over  the  street,  every  balcony  and  window,  and  even  the 
roofs  were  filled  with  ladies  and  children,  while  the  street  below, 
far  and  near,  was  choked  with  the  plumed  soldiery  and  the  dense 
masses  of  citizens.  The  civic  welcome  to  Gluitman,  amidst  thun 
ders  of  appkuse,  was  pronounced  by  the  young  and  eloquent  Mar 
tin,  the  district  attorney  for  this  circuit.  Colonel  A.  L.  Bingaman 
had  been  elected  the  orator  of  the  day,  but  his  unavoidable  absence 
to  New  Orleans  prevented  his  acceptance,  and  Martin,  as  well  as  any 
other  orator  could  have  done,  supplied  his  place.  Both  the  address 
and  Quitman's  rejoinder  were  extemporaneous,  and  thrilled  the 
multitude  with  the  high  impulses  of  the  occasion.  How  wonderful, 
said  Martin,  is  it  that  the  very  city  (Natchez)  bearing  the  name  of 
a  noble  fragment  of  the  Aztec  race,  who,  in  some  convulsion  or 
other,  perhaps  to  avoid  the  murderous  sword  of  Cortez,  had  been 
expatriated  from  Mexico,  and  stood  on  the  bluff  where  their  proud 
name  still  remains — how  remarkable  was  it  that  from  the  very  ashes 
of  their  graves  there  should  have  risen  an  avenger  of  their  wrongs, 
and  that  our  duitman,  from  fair  Natchez,  had  been  deputed  by 
Providence  'to  spoil  the  spoiler!'  I  do  not  attempt  to  quote  his 
burning  language.  Gluitman's  reply  was  modest,  and  replete  with 
gratitude  to  his  fellow-citizens ;  filled  with  encomiums  upon  those 
great  masters  in  the  science  of  war  under  whom  he  had  served — 
Taylor  and  Scott  —  naming,  with  a  heart  full  of  affection,  not  only 
the  officers  with  whom  he  had  associated,  but  those  who  had  served 
under  his  orders,  and  in  particular  the  rank  and  file  of  the  army  ; 
he  spoke  of  the  immense  mountain  of  prejudice  that  had  been  re 
moved  from  the  minds  of  the  regular  army  entertained  against  the 
volunteer  service,  and  trusted  that  the  American  name  now  stood 
far  higher  in  Europe  and  all  over  the  world,  in  consequence  of  the 


RECEPTION    ON   ARRIVING   AT   NATCHEZ.  101 

deeds  performed  in  Mexico  by  both  arms  of  the  service  —  the  regu 
lar  and  the  voluntary.  The  collation  now  invited  our  whole  popu 
lation —  ladies,  gentlemen  and  children  —  to  a  participation;  and 
such  a  generous,  hearty,  abundant  *  feast  of  the  people'  was  rarely 
ever  seen.  The  cross-table  at  the  head  of  the  hall  was  most  luxu 
riously  spread,  and  was  the  table  of  welcome  to  General  Quitman, 
his  staff,  the  invited  guests,  and  the  distinguished  individuals  com 
posing  the  committee  of  arrangements,  the  civic  authorities,  &c. 
Here  the  vitality  of  the  feast,  like  the  heart  in  the  human  body, 
kept  alive  the  longest ;  and  when  the  multitudinous  waves  of  the 
people  had  a  little  subsided,  fourteen  regular  toasts  were  drunk,  in 
cluding  the  President  of  the  United  States  ;  the  memory  of  Wash 
ington  ;  Generals  Scott,  Taylor,  Gluitman,  Colonel  Jefferson  Davis, 
Major  Ezra  R.  Price,  Captain  Douglass  H.  Cooper,  Lieutenants 
Keiger  and  Posey ;  our  gallant  army  in  Mexico ;  the  surviving 
heroes  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  American  mothers,  wives  and 
daughters.  General  Felix  Boston  being  absent,  sent  in  the  follow 
ing  volunteer  toast : 

"  General  John  Jl.  Quitman — '  Second  to  none  !'  Six  hours  be 
fore  any  other  chieftain,  he  fought  his  way  into  the  centre  of  Mon 
terey  ;  near  eight  hours  before  any  other  leader,  he  had  stormed  the 
Garita  and  entered  the  city  of  Mexico ;  the  first  to  plant  the  Stars 
and  the  Stripes  over  the  Halls  of  the  Montezumas  ! 

"  Charles  Reynolds,  Esq.,  gave  : 

"  Natchez — The  residence  of  Major-General  John  A.  duitman, 
the  first  Anglo-Saxon  governor  of  the  *  City  of  the  Aztecs  !' 

"  Captain  James  C.  Fox  gave,  in  allusion  to  the  fact  that,  a  quar 
ter  of  a  century  ago,  General  duitman  organized  that  splendid  corps, 
the  Natchez  Fencibles,  and  was  their  first  captain : 

"  The  First  Captain  of  the  Fencibles  •• —  When  the  American 
cannon  and  rifle,  on  the  afternoon  of  September  13th,  roared  at  the 
Piedad  Gate,  Mexico  cried  out,  *  Who 's  dat  knocking  at  de  door  ?' 
The  answer  was,  John  A.  Quitman,  a  Natchez  Fencible  ! 

"There  were  many  other  striking  sentiments  drunk,  among 
which  were  — 

"  That  *  Revel  in  the  Halls  of  the  Montezumas  /'  —  The  dream 
of  General  Samuel  Houston  realized  by  General  Gluitman. 

"  General  Quitman's  passage  along  the  Jtqueduct  from  Chapul* 
9*  K2 


102  MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

tepee  to  the  Garita  de  Helen,  and  the  Piedad  Gate,  September  13, 
1847. — The  bridge  of  Lodi  in  American  history ! 

"  General  Gluitman's  dinner-table  response  to  the  sentiment  in  his 
honour  was  most  happy.  He  spoke  of  his  unexpected  major-gene 
ralship  without  any  adequate  command,  but  was  too  much  of  an 
American  « to  give  it  up  so ;'  had,  temporarily,  commanded  soldiers 
from  nearly  every  state  in  the  Union — broken  and  wasted  regiments 
— fragments — the  odds  and  ends  of  commands — but  he  assured  the 
audience  that  when  he  commanded  such  officers  as  Generals  Smith 
and  Shields,  and  such  men  as  he  led  to  Chapultepec  and  the  Garita 
de  Belen,  they  were  butt-enders,  at  least ! 

"Among  other  sentiments,  the  « State  of  Kentucky'  was  toasted. 
In  response,  a  young  and  eloquent  lawyer,  now  settled  in  New  Orleans, 
Thomas  H.  Holt,  Esq.,  a  native  of  Old  Kentucky,  made  a  most 
eloquent  and  thrilling  speech,  which  was  received  with  tumultuous 
applause.  The  sentiment  which  called  him  out,  offered  by  J.  A. 
Van  Hoesen,  Esq.,  was :  — 

"  Old  Kentucky — The  battles  in  Mexico  attest  the  valour  of  her 
sons ! 

"  No  one  can  conceive  the  enthusiasm  which  the  eloquent  Holt 
called  up.  He  concluded  by  relating  an  anecdote  of  Madame  Q,uit- 
man,  the  \vife  of  the  general ;  said  he :  When  the  brave  veteran 
was  bursting  open  things  at  Monterey,  some  neighbouring  ladies, 
thinking  that  Mrs.  Gluitman  must  feel  in  the  depths  of  sorrow  and 
affliction  at  such  terrible  doings,  went  to  condole  and  sympathize 
with  her — asking  her  if  she  had  not  dreadful  feelings  at  the  danger 
and  exposure  of  her  husband  among  those  '  rude-throated  engines' 
of  death.  She  confessed  that  she  had  her  feelings  on  the  occasion, 
among  which  one  feeling  was  predominant,  which  was,  that  she 
*  would  rather  be  the  widow  of  a  man  who  had  fallen  fighting  the 
battles  of  his  country,  than  the  wife  of  a  living  coward !" 

We  cannot  close  this  sketch  of 'General  Quitrnan  better,  than  by 
giving  extracts  of  a  letter  [October  15th,  1847]  in  which  he  gives 
his  opinion  concerning  the  future  duty  of  the  United  States,  with 
regard  to  Mexico.  However  parlies  may  disagree  on  this  important 
subject,  all  will  respect  the  fearlessness  with  which  a  war-worn  vete 
ran  advocates  the  measures  that  he  believes  right. 

'*  I  wish  now,  instead  of  an  epistle  written  in  the  reception-room 
of  the  successors  of  Cortez,  I  could  only  have  you  by  the  button  for 


LETTER   OF   QUITMAN.  103 

one  hour ;  I  would  run  over  my  reflections  upon  the  future.  I  will 
not  repeat  what,  no  doubt,  ere  this  you  have  been  wearied  of  read 
ing.  How  this  gallant  army  of  nine  thousand  men  descended  into 
this  valley,  broke  through  a  line  of  almost  impregnable  batteries  — 
in  four  battles  defeated  an  enemy  of  thirty-five  thousand,  took  more 
than  one  hundred  guns,  and  four  thousand  prisoners,  and  erected  the 
*  glorious  stars  and  stripes'  on  this  palace,  where,  since  the  conquest 
of  Cortez,  no  stranger  banner  had  ever  waved  ;  but  I  will  be  guilty 
of  one  egotism — I  was  among  the  first  to  enter  the  gates  of  the  city, 
after  an  obstinate  defence,  and  it  was  my  good  fortune  that,  under 
my  personal  orders,  our  flag  was  first  raised  on  this  palace.  With 
all  this  you  will,  however,  have  been  surfeited  in  these  days  of 
heroics. 

"  I  have  an  opportunity  to  write  you  a  line.  My  thoughts  are 
full  of  one  subject,  and  I  proceed  to  it  in  medias  res.  The  Mexican 
army  is  disbanded.  The  whole  country,  except  where  we  govern 
it,  is  in  confusion.  There  appears  to  be  no  prospect  of  the  estab 
lishment  of  a  new  government.  If  we  desire  peace,  there  is  no 
power,  nor  will  there  be  any  legitimate  power  with  which  to  make 
peace.  What,  then,  is  to  be  done  ?  I  speak  to  you  boldly,  as  we 
spoke  when  the  Texas  question  arose.  I  say,  hold  on  to  this  coun 
try.  It  is  its  destiny.  It  is  ours.  We  are  compelled  to  this  policy 
— we  cannot  avoid  it. 

"There  are  but  three  modes  of  prosecuting  this  war.  One  is,  to 
increase  our  force  to  fifty  thousand  men,  and  overrun  the  whole 
country,  garrison  every  state  capital,  and  take  every  considerable 
city.  The  second  is,  to  withdraw  our  armies  from  the  country,  arid 
take  up  the  proposed  defensive  line.  The  third  is  to  occupy  the 
line,  or  certain  points  in  it ;  and  also  to  hold,  not  only  the  line  and 
the  ports,  but  this  capital,  preserving  an  open  communication  with 
the  gulf.  This  last  appears  to  me  to  be  the  true  policy  of  the  coun 
try.  The  first  has  the  objection  of  being  too  expensive,  without  the 
prospect  of  any  good  results.  It  would,  also,  demoralize  the  army, 
as  a  war  of  details  always  does.  The  second  would  be  equally  ex 
pensive,  and  would  protract  the  war  indefinitely.  The  last  appears 
the  only  practicable  alternative,  and  it  is  forced  upon  us.  If  we 
abandon  this  capital,  in  thirty  days  after  the  army  of  officers  and 
office-holders,  (empleos,)  now  driven  from  the  hive,  will  return  and 
re-establish  a  central  military  government,  whose  bond  of  union 


104  MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

would  be  preserved  by  our  presence  upon  the  frontier.  They  would 
keep  alive  this  distant  war  on  the  frontier  from  choice,  force  us  into 
the  necessity  of  keeping  up  strong  garrisons  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Rio  Grande  to  the  Pacific;  because,  from  the  centre,  they  could 
strike  a  blow  upon  any  part  of  the  line  before  it  could  be  reinforced. 
They  would  move  on  a  semi-diameter,  while  our  operations  would 
be  on  the  circumference.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  twenty  thou 
sand  disbanded  officers,  the  military  aristocracy  of  the  country,  should 
not  be  able  to  establish  a  government,  the  country  would  be  left  in  a 
state  of  absolute  anarchy  upon  our  withdrawal,  and  would  soon  be 
wasted,  plundered  and  depopulated.  It  would  become  derelict,  and 
would  be  seized  as  a  waif  by  some  European  power.  Think  you 
such  a  prize  as  this  splendid  country  is,  would  be  long  without  some 
claimant  ?  England  would  be  ready  to  throw  in  an  army  here  to 
protect  her  mining  interests,  or  to  league  with  France  to  establish  a 
monarchy.  I  do  not  exaggerate,  when  I  say  that  it  would  become 
derelict !  (that  is,  utterly  forsaken.)  It  is  already  prostrated.  Five, 
out  of  its  seven  millions  of  inhabitants,  are  beasts  of  burden,  with  as 
little  of  intellect  as  the  asses  whose  burdens  they  share.  Of  the 
population  of  this  city,  one  hundred  thousand  are  leperos,  with  no 
social  tie,  no  wives,  no  children,  no  homes ;  Santa  Anna  was  the  only 
man  who  could  even  for  a  time  keep  together  the  rotten  elements 
of  his  corrupt  government.  Here  in  this  capital  we  are  in  the  pos 
session  of  all  the  machinery  of  that  miserable  contrivance  which  was 
called  the  government ;  out  of  this  capital  they  cannot  establish  an 
other.  No  sensible  man  in  this  country  believes  it.  Then  it  follows, 
that  if  we  abandon  this  capital,  either  the  official  jackals  return  and 
set  up  the  old  carcase  of  the  state,  or  reduced  to  anarchy,  the  country 
will  be  seized  upon  by  some  foreign  power. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  with  ten  thousand  men,  we  can  hold  this 
capital  and  Vera  Cruz,  and  keep  open  a  safe  communication  be 
tween  the  two  points.  Possessing  the  heart,  there  could  be  no 
sufficient  force  concentrated  to  annoy  us  upon  the  frontier  line  we 
might  choose  to  occupy.  The  expense  would  be  less  to  hold  this 
point  and  the  frontier  line,  than  to  occupy  the  latter,  and  leave  this 
as  a  rallying  point  for  the  enemy.  I  mean  to  say  it  would  require 
less  men  and  less  money,  and  would  be  attended  with  less  difficulty 
and  risk,  to  keep  this  capital  and  the  seaports,  as  a  part  of  the  policy 
of  the  defensive  line,  than  to  adopt  the  latter  exclusively.  But  by 


LETTER   OF   QUITMAN.  105 

holding  on  to  the  seaports  and  the  capital,  and  by  keeping  open  the 
communication  between  them,  a  large  portion  of  the  expenses  of  this 
mode  of  prosecuting  the  war  would  be  drawn,  by  very  simple  means, 
from  the  country.  The  duties  on  imports  into  Vera  Cruz,  during 
the  month  of  August,  with  the  very  restricted  internal  commerce 
which  then  existed,  amounted  to  sixty  thousand  dollars.  I  do  not 
hesitate  to  say  it  will  this  winter  amount  to  three  times  that  sum  per 
month.  If,  then,  we  lay  but  half  the  duty  on  the  exportation  of 
bullion  and  the  precious  metals,  existing  under  the  Mexican  govern 
ment,  we  may  readily  anticipate,  from  these  sources  alone,  an  income 
of  three  millions  of  dollars  per  annum. 

"  Let  foreign  goods  be  brought  to  this  capital  under  our  low  sys 
tem  of  duties,'  and  we  should  soon  obtain  a  moral  conquest  over  this 
country  which  would  bring  us  peace — unless,  indeed,  it  should  pro 
duce  so  violent  a  friendship  for  our  institutions  and  government  that 
we  would  be  unable  to  shake  off  our  amiable  neighbours — a  contin 
gency,  I  assure  you,  not  unlikely  to  occur.  What  then?  Why, 
the  «  old  hunker'  will  say,  as  he  has  sung  since  the  first  new  state 
was  admitted  —  as  he  said  when  Louisiana  and  Florida  were  pur 
chased,  and  latterly  when  Texas  was  annexed,  that  the  Union  is  in 
danger,  the  country  will  be  ruined,  &c.  &c."  *  * 

With  a  glowing  account  of  the  resources  of  the  country,  and  the 
advantages  of  the  commercial  pass  of  Tehuantepec,  the  general 
boldly  strikes  out  for  the  policy  of  holding  the  country  in  possession ; 
and  says : — 

"  Let  us  try  the  policy,  and  not  be  alarmed,  because,  in  process 
of  time,  it  may  result  in  extending  our  federation  to  the  isthmus." 


BBIGADIER-GENERAL  TWIGGS. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  DAVID  E.  TWIGGS  is  a  native  of  Georgia. 
His  father,  John  Twiggs,  was  a  major-general  in  the  Revolution, 
and  by  his  valuable  services  obtained  the  title  of  "  Saviour  of  Geor 
gia."  Born  in  Richmond  county  in  1790,  young  Twiggs  grew  up 
in  the  immediate  sunset  of  the  revolution,  and  imbibed  the  spirit  of 
that  glorious  period  in  his  earliest  teachings.  Accordingly,  the  study 
of  law,  which  he  commenced  in  Franklin  College,  and  prosecuted 
under  General  Thomas  Flourney,  was  abandoned  as  soon  as  our 
difficulties  with  England  gave  promise  of  a  war.  Through  the 
exertions  of  his  father  he  received  a  commission  as  captain  of  the 
8th  infantry,  March  12th,  1812.  He  was  not  entrusted  with  a  se 
parate  command  during  the  war,  but  so  far  distinguished  himself 
is  to  receive  the  commendations  both  of  government  and  his  native 
>tate. 

Major  Twiggs  served  under  Generals  Gaines  and  Jackson  in  the 
difficulties  with  the  Spaniards  and  the  Seminole  war.  At  the  head 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  he  totally  defeated  a  large  party  of 
Indians,  under  the  celebrated  chief  Hornetlirned.  In  1817,  he  ac 
companied  General  Jackson  in  his  march  toward  St.  Augustine,  and 
was  appointed  to  take  possession  of  St.  Marks.  He  was  subse 
quently  concerned  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  stationed  at  the  Augusta 
arsenal  during  the  national  difficulties  with  South  Carolina,  and 
then  removed  to  New  Orleans.  His  services  in  Florida,  like  those 
of  most  other  officers  there,  were  arduous  but  not  brilliant.  On  the 
8th  of  June,  1836,  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  2d  dragoons. 

When  General  Taylor  approached  Point  Isabel  in  his  march  to 
the  Rio  Grande,  he  discovered  it  to  be  on  fire.  Colonel  Twiggs 
was  immediately  despatched  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  to 

(106) 


GENERAL  TWIGGS. 


Page  106 


TWIGGS  AT  PALO  ALTO,  ETC.         107 

arrest  the  conflagration,  arid  succeeded  in  saving  a  few  of  the  houses. 
He  found  the  town  evacuated  by  the  authorities  and  military,  who 
had  fled  at  his  approach. 

The  dispute  between  Colonels  Twiggs  and  Worth  has  already 
been  noticed.  Twiggs'  commission  was  dated  June  8th,  1836,  that 
of  Worth,  July  7th,  1838 ;  but  in  1842  the  latter  had  been  brevetted 
brigadier-general.  On  this  circumstance  he  claimed  precedence 
over  Twiggs,  who,  however,  refused  to  yield  his  authority  as  second 
in  command.  The  matter  was  referred  to  General  Taylor,  who  de 
cided  in  favour  of  Twiggs. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  Twiggs'  own  account  of  his  ope 
rations  on  the  8th  and  9th  of  May : 

"The  enemy,  at  the  distance  of  about  half  a  mile,  opened  their 
batteries  on  the  right,  which,  being  immediately  responded  to  by 
our  two  eighteen-pounders,  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Churchill, 
brought  on  the  action  of  the  8th  instant.  Major  Ringgold's  battery 
was  ordered  to  the  right  and  front  of  the  eighteen-pounders,  at  a 
distance  of  about  seven  hundred  yards  from  the  enemy,  when  the 
battery  was  opened  with  great  effect,  as  was  shown  the  next  day,  by 
the  number  of  the  enemy's  dead  found  along  his  line.  The  in 
fantry,  in  the  mean  time,  was  formed  in  rear  of  the  artillery,  re 
ceiving  with  the  greatest  possible  coolness  the  enemy's  fire,  and  only 
anxious  for  the  order  to  rush  in  and  participate  actively  in  the  affair. 

"A  regiment  of  the  enemy's  lancers  was  observed  to  move  to  our 
right,  apparently  to  gain  possession  of  our  wagon  train,  a  few  hun 
dred  yards  in  rear.  The  5th  infantry  and  two  pieces  of  Major 
Ringgold's  artillery,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  R.  Ridgely, 
were  ordered  to  check  this  movement.  Having  gained  ground  to 
the  right,  some  four  or  five  hundred  yards,  the  5th  was  formed  in 
square  to  receive  a  charge  from  the  lancers,  who  advanced  to  with 
in  fifty  yards,  when  the  opposing  side  of  the  square  fired  into  and 
repulsed  them,  having  received  in  the  mean  time  several  irregular 
discharges  from  the  enemy.  The  lancers  re-formed,  and  continued 
their  movement  to  get  in  rear  of  our  right  flank,  when  I  ordered 
the  3d  to  move  to  the  right  and  rear,  around  a  pond  of  water,  and 
prevent  their  progress  in  that  direction.  Seeing  their  movement 
frustrated  in  this  point,  the  lancers  commenced  a  retreat  in  good 
order,  marching  apparently  by  squadrons,  when  First  Lieutenant  R. 
Ridgely,  of  Major  Ringgold's  battery,  assisted  by  Brevet  Second 


JOS  BRIGADIER-GENERAL    TWIGGS. 

Lieutenant  French,  opened  a  fire  on  them,  and  scattered  them  in 
all  directions.  In  this  affair,  the  enemy  lost  some  twenty-eight  or 
thirty  men.  This  portion  of  the  right  wing  served  in  about  this 
position  until  the  close  of  the  actio-n.  In  the  mean  time,  Major 
Ringgold,  with  the  remaining  two  pieces  of  his  battery,  continued 
to  play  on  the  enemy  with  great  success.  The  gallant  major  was 
mortally  wounded  by  a  cannon  ball  towards  the  close  of  the  action, 
and  his  horse  shot  under  him  at  the  same  time.  The  army  and  the 
country  will  long  deplore  the  loss  of  so  brave  and  accomplished  an 
officer." 

For  his  bravery  in  these  battles,  Twiggs  was  promoted  to  the 
brevet  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He  commanded  the  advance  at 
the  capture  of  Matamoras,  and  was  appointed  military  governor  of 
the  city.  This  station  he  occupied  until  the  movement  of  the  army 
toward  Monterey.  Twiggs  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  officers 
concerned  in  the  storming  of  Monterey.  In  the  street  fight  he  es 
pecially  distinguished  himself;  and  the  annexed  portions  of  his  re 
port  will  show  the  trials  endured  by  his  command,  in  the  eventful 
"three  days:" 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  21st  instant,  my  division  advanced  to 
ward  the  city.  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  Garland's  brigade,  composed 
of  the  3d  and  4th  regiments  of  regular  infantry,  and  Captain  B. 
Bragg's  horse-artillery,  Lieutenant-Colonel  H.  Wilson's  brigade, 
composed  of  the  1st  regiment  of  regular  infantry,  and  the  Wash 
ington  and  Baltimore  battalion  of  volunteers,  were  ordered  to  the 
east  and  lower  end  of  the  city,  to  make  a  diversion  in  favour  of 
Brevet  Brigadier-General  W.  J.  Worth's  division,  which  was  ope 
rating  against  the  west  and  upper  part  of  the  city.  It  being  deemed 
practicable,  an  assault  was  ordered  against  two  of  the  enemy's  ad 
vanced  works.  The  regular  force  of  my  division  was  thrown  to 
the  right  of  the  two  works,  with  orders  to  take  possession  of  some 
houses  in  the  city,  on  the  right  and  rear  of  the  enemy's  advanced 
position,  with  a  view  of  annoying  him  in  flank  and  rear.  The 
Washington  and  Baltimore  battalion  was  ordered  on  the  road  leading 
directly  to  the  works.  Under  a  most  galling  and  destructive  fire 
from  three  batteries  in  front  and  one  on  the  right,  as  well  as  from 
that  of  small  arms  from  all  the  adjacent  houses  and  stone  walls,  my 
division  advanced  as  rapidly  as  the  ground  and  the  stern  opposition 
of  the  enemy  would  admit  of.  The  1st,  3d,  and  4th  regiments  of 


TWIGGS   AT   MONTEREY.  109 

infantry  gained  the  position  to  which  they  were  ordered,  and  annoyed 
the  enemy  in  flank  and  rear,  until  he  was  obliged  to  evacuate  his 
two  advanced  works,  which  were  hotly  pressed  by  General  Butler's 
division  of  volunteers,  and  the  Washington  and  Baltimore  battalion, 
under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Watson. 

"  The  3d  and  4th  advanced  still  further  into  the  city,  but  finding 
the  streets  strongly  barricaded  by  heavy  masses  of  masonry,  behind 
which  batteries  were  placed,  and  the  houses  filled  with  light  troops, 
were  obliged  to  retire  to  the  works  first  taken  by  the  volunteers. 
The  position  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  the  arrangement  of  his 
defences,  in  every  street  and  corner,  rendered  it  necessary  for  the 
regular  troops  who  advanced  into  the  city  to  be  separated,  each  com 
pany  being  led  by  its  captain  or  immediate  commander,  and  for  the 
time  acting  independently.  After  a  most  manly  struggle  of  some 
six  hours,  my  men  succeeded,  after  various  repulses,  in  driving  the 
enemy  from  each  and  every  of  his  positions  in  the  suburbs.  The 
3d  infantry,  commanded  by  Major  W.  W.  Lear,  and  part  of  the 
4th,  all  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  Garland,  led 
off  towards  the  right,  and  in  the  direction  of  one  of  the  enemy's 
strongest  works  in  front  of  a  bridge  in  the  city.  Captain  B.  Bragg's 
battery  accompanied  the  command,  under  a  destructive  fire,  which 
killed  and  disabled  several  of  his  men  and  horses,  until  directed  to 
retire  beyond  the  range  of  small  arms. 

*  #  #  *  *  #  # 

"  The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in  this  assault,  shows  with 
what  obstinacy  each  position  was  defended  by  the  enemy,  as  well 
as  the  gallantry  and  good  conduct  displayed  by  our  officers  and 
men. 

"  Captain  B.  Bragg's  battery,  having  suffered  severely,  after  ad 
vancing  some  distance  into  the  city,  was  obliged  to  withdraw  to  a 
point  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  small  arms.  Captain  R.  Ridgely, 
with  one  section  of  his  battery,  annoyed  the  enemy's  advanced 
works  for  some  time  in  the  commencement  of  the  assault,  but  was 
obliged  to  retire  out  of  range  of  their  batteries,  that  were  playing  on 
him.  Having  used  a  twelve-pounder  taken  from  the  first  work, 
against  the  enemy,  till  the  ammunition  gave  out,  he  was  sent,  with, 
one  section  of  his  own  battery  still  further  in  advance ;  but  being 
unable  to  accomplish  much  against  the  enemy's  heavy  breastworks, 
returned  to,  and  occupied  with  his  battery,  the  first  work  taken  from 
10 


110  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   TWIGGS. 

the  enemy.  Captains  R.  Ridgely  and  B.  Bragg,  and  their  subal 
terns,  W.  H.  Shover,  G.  H.  Thomas,  J.  F.  Reynolds,  C.  L.  Kil- 
burn,  and  S.  G.  French,  deserve  the  highest  praise  for  their  skill 
and  good  conduct  under  the  heaviest  fire  of  the  enemy,  which,  when 
an  opportunity  offered,  was  concentrated  on  them.  In  the  advanced 
works  referred  to  were  taken  four  officers  and  sixteen  men,  prisoners 
of  war,  together  with  five  pieces  of  ordnance,  some  ammunition  and 
small  arms.  Having  thrown  up  some  slight  breastworks,  the  1st, 
3d,  and  4th  infantry,  and  Captain  R.  Ridgely's  battery,  occupied 
this  position  until  the  morning  of  the  22d. 

******** 

"  On  the  23d,  the  advance  into  the  city  was  resumed — the  in 
fantry  working  their  way  from  house  to  house,  supported  by  Cap 
tains  R.  Ridgely  and  B.  Bragg's  battery,  driving  the  enemy  before 
them.  When  night  closed  our  operations  on  the  23d,  our  men  had 
advanced  to  within  two  squares  of  the  centre  of  the  city." 

After  the  surrender  of  the  city,  Twiggs  occupied  it  with  his  di 
vision,  until  ordered  to  join  General  Scott  on  the  gulf  coast.  He 
assisted  at  the  taking  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  received  from  the  com 
mander  the  honour  of  conducting  the  main  attack  at  Sierra  Gordo. 
The  annexed  graphic  description  of  the  movements  of  his  division, 
on  the  night  preceding  the  battle,  is  from  the  pen  of  one  of  its 
number : — 

"  The  day  preceding  the  battle  of  Sierra  Gordo  was  one  of  ex 
ceeding  beauty,  more  so  than  even  many  of  those  seen  beneath  a 
tropical  sun.  A  gentle  breeze,  which  was  wafted  across  the  Tierra 
Caliente  from  the  '  Blue  Gulf,'  unfolded  upon  the  summit  of  the 
Sierra  Gordo  the  gay  ensign  of  the  haughty  Mexican,  and  at  the 
same  time  floated  the  star-spangled  banner  in  its  balmy  embrace 
over  a  handful  of  Americans  who  came  to  battle  in  their  country's 
cause.  Stretched  along  the  heights  behind  strong  fortifications,  de 
fended  by  frowning  cannon  and  bristling  bayonets,  attired  in  all  the 
gay  paraphernalia  of  a  splendid  army,  lay  the  Mexican  hosts,  ga 
thered  to  defend  their  country  from  the  « northern  barbarians,'  who 
laid  quietly  encamped  in  the  small  valley  of  the  Plan  del  Rio,  pa 
tiently  awaiting  the  order  for  battle,  when  they  should  rush  forth 
upon  that  proud  army  and  drive  them  in  confusion  from  their  strong 
holds. 

"  Among  the  latter  party  was  myself-— -an  humble  soldier  in  the 


TWIGGS   AT   SIERRA    GORDO.  Ill 

cause — seated  in  my  tent.  I  thought  of  the  home  I  had  left  behind 
me,  and  the  friends  I  had  forsaken,  to  struggle  amid  strangers  in  a 
foreign  land — the  many  chances  against  me  in  the  game  of  life  and 
death  that  is  for  ever  going  on  in  the  midst  of  an  army.  I  thought 
myself  dreaming ;  but  I  could  not  lay  that  « flattering  unction  to  my 
soul.'  It  was  too  true  —  the  reality  was  too  plain.  I  was  a  soldier, 
and  upon  the  eve  of  a  battle,  with  many  chances  of  being  victimized 
by  a  Mexican  bullet.  Well,  well,  thought  I,  if  I  am  killed,  it  shall 
be  gloriously  in  defence  of  my  country's  honour;  my  name,  among 
others,  will  be  handed  down  to  posterity,  printed  on  the  page  of 
history,  and  *  enrolled  upon  the  scroll  of  fame,'  an  example  to  future 
belligerent  young  gentlemen  that  the  'pride  and  pomp  of  glorious 
war,'  no  matter  how  imposing,  does  not  counterbalance  its  '  circum 
stance'  in  the  scale  of  life. 

"I  looked  out  upon  the  camp  :  my  fellow-soldiers  were  engaged 
in  various  occupations.  Some,  thinking  of  the  approaching  contest, 
were  preparing  their  arms  and  ammunition  to  do  bloody  work; 
others,  thinking  of  their  latter  end,  were  writing  their  wills  and  fare 
well  letters  to  their  friends  ;  others,  like  Sergeant  Dalgetty,  thinking 
of  their  provant,  were  cooking ;  others,  thinking  that  they  were 
brave,  were  talking  in  loud  tones  of  the  valorous  deeds  they  intend 
ed  to  perform  on  the  morrow ;  others,  thinking  that  battles  were 
dangerous  things,  were  musing  on  the  chances  of  going  through 
safely ;  and  others  still,  thinking  of  nothing  at  all,  were  whistling, 
singing,  and  playing  cards.  I  was  thinking  of  all  these  things, 
when  I  was  suddenly  startled  by  the  sullen  booming  of  a  cannon  in 
the  direction  of  Sierra  Gordo ;  then  another  and  another ;  then  the 
rapid  roll  of  musketry  and  successive  cracks  of  rifles.  It  was  all 
too  plain  that  the  battle  had  commenced.  General  Twiggs  had  been 
ordered  in  the  morning  to  take  the  position  assigned  his  division, 
and  protect  the  detail  engaged  in  making  a  road  for  our  artillery, 
and  the  enemy  had  attempted  to  drive  him  back.  The  fight  raged 
with  violence  for  some  moments.  Those  ancient  hills  shook  with 
the  thunder  of  artillery — the  valleys  re-echoed  the  sound  of  small- 
arms.  I  thought  of  the  many  souls  that  took  their  departure  from 
earth  with  each  discharge — of  the  mangled  limbs  and  painful  looks 
and  cries  of  the  wounded.  I  had  been  under  fire  before  ;  but  some 
how  this  seemed  like  getting  into  closer  quarters  than  formerly.  I 
said  not  a  word,  but,  like  Paddy's  owl,  I  kept  up  '  a  thinking.' 


112  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   TWIGGS. 

"  Up  to  this  time  it  had  been  the  impression  that  our  brigade 
would  be  held  in  reserve ;  hence  the  nonchalance  manifested  by 
most  of  the  corps ;  but  this  pleasant  hallucination  was  banished  by 
the  'long  roll,'  beaten  by  'old  Brown,' the  drum-major  —  a  very 
Paganini  on  the  drum.  Our  colonel  had  prevailed  on  General 
Scott  to  order  us  in  the  advance  to  support  Twiggs.  All  thinking 
now  ceased ;  he  who  was  cleaning  his  musket  quickly  shouldered 
it;  the  letter-writer  closed  his  mournful  epistle;  the  cook  left  his 
supper  at  the  mercy  of  the  fire ;  the  gasconading  youth  was  silent, 
and  hoped  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart  that  it  was  a  false  alarm ; 
the  silent  thinker  calmly  equipped  himself;  the  musician  halted  in 
the  middle  of  a  tune ;  the  card-players  threw  down  their  hands, 
and,  instead  of  shuffling  the  papers,  thought  of  shuffling  off  this 
mortal  coil. 

"The  drums  beat  a  merry  tune  as  the  companies  marched  into 
their  places.  The  words,  'Attention  —  shoulder  arms!'  from  our 
adjutant,  made  every  man  a  soldier ;  and  the  regiment  was  formed 
— as  fine  a  body  of  men  as  ever  took  the  field.  Our  gallant  colonel 
drew  his  good  sword,  and,  glancing  proudly  upon  us,  gave  the  com 
mand,  'By  the  right  flank — right  face — forward — march!'  And 
away  we  went.  As  we  reached  the  road,  I  glanced  behind  me 
upon  our  camp.  The  fires  burned  with  lurid  flickering  flame  ;  the 
camp-kettles,  brimming  full  of  good  'bean-soup,'  sung  a  mournful 
song ;  our  poor  invalids,  unable  to  follow  us  to  the  field  of  glory, 
gazed  with  tearful  eyes  upon  their  departing  comrades,  and  mourned 
not  so  much  because  they  could  not  go  as  because  we  were  going. 
On  we  went  at  a  smashing  pace,  and,  having  three  miles  to  go,  just 
as  we  were  ascending  the  first  hill  between  our  camp  and  the  enemy, 
we  met  Sergeant  Scott, 'General  Twiggs'  orderly,  coming  at  a  forced 
gallop  with  a  prisoner  seated  upon  the  crupper  of  his  horse.  Scott 
was  a  giant  in  comparison  with  the  diminutive  form  of  the  Mexican, 
who  grasped  him  about  the  waist  and  held  on,  as  you  have  seen  a 
dirty-faced  urchin  while  riding  behind  his  daddy,  his  ear  glued  to 
Scott's  back,  as  if  osculating  his  spine.  At  every  bound  of  the  horse 
his  body  flew  out  in  a  direct  line  from  that  of  the  sergeant's ;  and 
when  he  struck  the  horse  again — oh,  awful,  awful,  indeed,  was  the 
shock !  Thus  had  Scott  ridden  with  him  for  three  miles ;  and  I 
guess  the  Mexican  did  not  much  admire  that  kind  of  transportation. 
This  is  the  way  that  Sergeant  Scott  takes  prisoners.  It  is  said  that 


TWIGGS   AT   SIERRA   GORDO.  113 

he  has  taken  a  prisoner  in  every  fight  in  which  his  general  has  par 
ticipated. 

"Immediately  after  Scott,  followed  a  wounded  soldier  leaning 
upon  his  comrade.  Never  shall  I  forget  the  look  of  that  man ;  his 
arm  had  been  shattered  by  a  shot  and  hung  powerless,  while  a 
stream  of  blood  poured  from  a  severed  artery,  flooding  his  whole 
side ;  yet  not  a  look  betrayed  the  least  emotion  of  pain.  He  had 
sacrificed  his  good  right  arm  in  his  country's  cause,  and  he  rejoiced 
in  the  sacrifice. 

"About  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  we  reached  the  vicinity  of  Twiggs ; 
as  we  approached  his  position  we  met  many  of  the  wounded  return 
ing  from  the  field ;  and  immediately  in  his  neighbourhood  we  came 
upon  the  surgeons  at  their  bloody  work.  To  hear  the  groans  of  some, 
and  even  to  witness  the  fortitude  of  others  of  the  mangled  soldiers, 
was  truly  heart-rending :  there  lay  men  in  the  agonies  of  death,  and 
there  lay  lifeless  bodies,  which  but  a  few  moments  before  had  moved 
in  the  full  enjoyment  of  all  their  faculties,  now  wrapped  for  ever  in 
the  cold  embrace  of  death. 

"  We  found  that  the  enemy  had  retired  behind  his  batteries  with 
great  loss,  leaving  Twiggs  to  bivouack  upon  his  hard-earned  field., 
We  were  immediately  reported  to  the  old  veteran,  and  directed  to 
pile  arms  and  await  further  orders,  which  soon  came  for  a  detail  of 
one  hundred  men  from  each  regiment  (we  having  brigaded  with  the 
3d  Illinois  and  1st  New  York  regiments)  for  the  purpose  of  placing 
in  battery  a  twenty-four-pounder  upon  the  summit  of  an  immense  hill 
lying  between  us  and  the  Sierra  Gordo.  The  gun  was  of  immense 
weight ;  the  hill  steep  and  rugged ;  but  the  *  suckers'  were  hitched 
on,  and  up  that  dreadful  engine  went,  tearing  down  trees  and  crush 
ing  huge  rocks  in  its  course. 

"  This  work  occupied  a  great  portion  of  the  night ;  and  when  the 
piece  was  placed  in  battery,  the  men  who  played  horses  had  the 
satisfaction  of  reflecting  that  the  feat  they  had  performed  excelled 
any  thing  in  the  annals  of  warfare. 

"  This  tremendous  task  performed,  pickets  were  placed,  and  the 
army  sunk  upon  the  blood-stained  rocks  to  slumber,  only  to  awake 
on  the  morrow  in  order  to  imbrue  their  hands  once  more  in  the  blood 
of  the  degenerate  sons  of  the  Aztecs.  Having  no  musket,  I  went  in 
search  of  one,  and  upon  the  bloody  battle-field  I  found  it.  It  was 
formerly  the  property  of  a  regular;  its  once  bright  barrel  and  glist- 
10* 


114  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   TWIGGS. 

ening  bayonet  were  dimmed  with  human  gore.  Oh,  how  loth  was 
1  to  touch  it ;  but  self-preservation  said  '  take  it ;'  and  grasping  it,  I 
sought  a  spot  clear  of  rocks  on  which  to  stretch  my  weary  limbs.  It 
was  hard  to  find,  and  I  made  no  choice,  but  laid  myself  cautiously 
down  with  my  head  upon  a  stone  and  my  gun  by  my  side.  I  tried 
to  sleep ;  but  sleep  seemed  for  ever  banished  :  as  often  as  I  closed 
my  eyes,  a  bloody  soldier  sprang  up  and  seemed  to  warn  me  of  my 
fate.  A  thousand  visions  flitted  across  my  mind.  I  saw  war  in  all 
its  hideous  forms ;  I  saw  the  weeping  widows  and  orphans,  and 
childless  parents,  when  at  the  village  post-office  the  bulletin  of  this 
battle  should  be  read.  I  heard  the  loud  hurra  of  the  nation  over  the 
glorious  victory,  and  saw  her  mourn  for  the  loss  of  her  sons.  I  saw 
red-mouthed  cannon  belching  forth  death  and  destruction  upon  our 
little  army ;  and  I  saw  my  companions  falling  around  me  like  the 
withered  leaves  of  autumn." 

Twiggs  carried  the  strong  work  of  Sierra  Gordo,  the  key  of  the 
entire  position,  and  after  the  victory  pushed  on  with  rapid  marches 
after  the  fugitives.  Next  day  he  entered  Jalapa,  of  which  he  took 
undisputed  possession. 

In  the  march  toward  the  capital,  Twiggs'  troops  encountered 
hardships  more  frightful  than  even  those  on  the  battle-field  ;  and  in 
turning  Lake  Chalco,  near  Penon,  they  were  obliged  to  drag  their 
cannon  over  rocks  and  ravines,  and  rugged  lava,  where  horses  were 
entirely  useless.  During  the  battles  of  the  19th  and  20th  of  August, 
they  fought  and  marched  all  day,  and  at  night  lay  amid  drenching 
rains,  with  tents  without  blankets,  on  bare  rocks.  Their  bearing 
under  these  trials  elicited  the  applause  of  every  one,  and  was  no 
ticed  by  General  Scott  in  terms  of  high  commendation. 

Twiggs  was  not  concerned  in  the  attack  on  Molino  del  Rey,  al 
though  one  brigade  (Riley's)  from  his  division  formed  the  reserve 
of  the  assailing  force.  The  following  extracts  show  the  part  he  toOK 
in  the  storming  of  Chapultepec : — 

"  Steptoe's  twelve-pounder  battery  was  placed  in  position  during 
the  night  of  the  llth,  and  by  daylight  in  the  morning  was  enabled 
to  open  on  the  enemy's  batteries,  situated  at  the  garita  in  the  San 
Antonio  road  ;  and  between  that  and  the  San  Angel  road  the  firing 
was  kept  up  briskly  during  the  day  on  both  sides,  with  but  little 
loss  to  us,  who  were  protected  by  a  good  temporary  breastwork.  On 
the  morning  of  the  13th  the  firing  was  renewed  with  great  spirit, 


TWIGGS   AT   CHAPULTEPEC.  115 

which  compelled  the  enemy  to  withdraw  his  guns  from  the  garita, 
within  the  protection  of  the  city  walls. 

"  Smith's  brigade  was  now  ordered  to  proceed  in  the  direction  of 
Chapultepec,  and  support  one  of  the  columns  of  attack,  commanded 
by  Major-General  Q,uitman.  With  the  stormers  from  my  division 
in  front  of  the  road,  the  attacking  column  on  the  left,  and  Smith's 
brigade  on  the  right  of  it,  the  force  advanced  in  the  face  of  a  well- 
directed  fire  from  a  battery  at  the  base  of  Chapultepec,  near  a  point 
where  the  aqueduct  leaves  it,  and  also  from  musketry  sheltered  by 
the  aqueduct,  and  by  breastworks  across  and  on  each  side  of  the 
road.  When  within  charging  distance,  the  stormers,  with  the  as 
sistance  of  the  right  of  Smith's  brigade,  which  had  been  thrown  for 
ward  toward  the  aqueduct,  rushed  on  the  enemy's  guns,  drove  off 
or  killed  the  cannoneers,  and  took  possession  of  this  strong  point. 
Smith's  brigade  having  advanced  three  companies  of  mounted  rifle 
men  considerably  to  its  right,  to  protect  the  right  of  Gluitman's  divi 
sion,  they  were  found  near  the  first  battery  when  the  stormers  were 
about  attacking,  and  were  thus  enabled  to  enter  with  the  advance. 
The  brigade  pushed  on  and  captured  a  second  battery  in  the  rear 
of  the  first,  when  several  guns  and  many  prisoners  were  taken ; 
after  some  brisk  skirmishing,  the  enemy  was  finally  driven  from 
every  point  on  the  east  of  the  hill,  and  were  pursued  on  the  San 
Cosme  road  some  distance  by  the  storming  party,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Captain  Paul,  7th  infantry ;  this  party  having  been  over 
taken  by  the  1st  division,  and  their  specific  duties  as  stormers  having 
been  accomplished,  were  ordered  to  return  and  rejoin  their  respective 
regiments. 

"Early  in  the  action,  Captain  Casey,  2d  infantry,  who  command 
ed  the  storming  party  from  my  division,  was  severely  wounded,  and 
obliged  to  retire.  The  command  devolving  upon  Captain  Paul,  7th 
infantry,  Lieutenant  Gantt,  7th  infantry,  with  a  portion  of  the  party, 
was  ordered  to  cross  the  ditch  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  proceed 
further  to  the  left  of  the  base  of  Chapultepec,  and,  by  scaling  the 
wall,  gain  admittance  to  the  body  of  the  wrork.  This  gallant  officer 
was  shot  dead  at  the  head  of  his  men ;  the  command  of  this  party 
devolving  upon  Lieutenant  Steele,  2d  infantry,  who  led  his  men  on 
with  intrepidity  and  success.  *  *  *  * 

"  Smith's  brigade  —  the  riflemen  leading,  supported  by  an  ejght- 
inch  howitzer,  in  charge  of  the  late  and  gallant  Captain  Drum,  4th 


116  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   TWIGGS. 

artillery — carried  a  battery  near  the  Casa  Colorada,  half  way  to  the 
garita  on  the  Chapultepec  road.  The  command  was  here  reorganized 
by  the  senior  officer,  Major-General  Quitman,  with  the  mounted 
riflemen  again  in  the  advance,  supported  by  the  South  Carolina  re 
giment —  the  remainder  of  Smith's  brigade  being  in  reserve  —  and 
charged  the  battery  at  the  garita ;  the  reserve  pushing  up,  arrived 
at  the  battery  at  the  same  moment  with  the  advance,  and  entered 
the  city  at  twenty  minutes  past  one  o'clock,  P.  M.  The  brigade 
occupied  buildings  within  the  city  during  the  night,  and,  the  enemy 
having  in  the  mean  time  abandoned  the  city,  our  forces  took  posses 
sion  of  it  on  the  morning  of  the  14th.  Our  national  colours  were 
planted  on  the  enemy's  palace  by  a  non-commissioned  officer  of  the 
mounted  rifles  at  seven  o'clock,  A.  M. 

"  Until  Jate  in  the  afternoon  of  the  13th,  Riley's  brigade,  with 
Steptoe's  and  Taylor's  batteries,  were  kept  in  the  Piedad  road  to 
watch  the  enemy  in  that  quarter.  It  formed  a  junction  with  the  1st 
division  on  the  San  Cosme  road  early  in  the  night  of  the  13th." 

For  the  remaining  operations  of  Twiggs'  command,  we  refer  the 
reader  to  the  lives  of  Scott,  duitman  and  Pillow.  Twiggs  is  now 
with  the  commander  at  the  capital.  Few  officers  can  boast  of  more 
valuable  service  than  he  has  rendered,  and  the  verdict  of  his  nation 
has  placed  him  among  those  whom  she  delights  to  honour. 


GENERAL  SMITH. 


BREVET  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  PERSIFOR  F.  SMITH  has  but  recently 
entered  the  army,  in  which,  he  now  occupies  so  honourable  a  station. 
He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  although  appointed  from  Louisiana. 
His  first  commission  as  colonel  of  mounted  rifles,  is  dated  May  27th, 
1846,  and  he  was  brevetted  brigadier-general  in  September  of  the 
same  year. 

Smith's  first  services  in  his  new  profession  were  brilliant  and  use 
ful.  He  formed  part  of  General  Worth's  division,  and  was  in 
trusted  by  that  officer  with  the  storming  of  the  forts  near  the  Bishop's 
Palace.  His  troops  marched  through  extensive  corn-fields,  over 
rocks  and  ledges,  and  through  a  branch  of  the  San  Juan  river,  while 
it  was  plashing  and  foaming  with  the  Mexican  shot.  The  enthu 
siasm  with  which  they  attacked  the  forts,  entering  them  at  a  perfect 
rush,  was  not  surpassed  by  any  achievement  of  that  eventful  day. 
For  his  manner  of  conducting  the  attack,  and  his  subsequent  ser- 
fices,  General  Smith  is  mentioned  by  Worth  among  those  whom  it 
vas  "  his  pleasing  and  grateful  duty  to  present  to  the  consideration 
»f  the  general-in-chief,  and  through  him  to  the  government."  After 
the  capitulation,  he  was  appointed  to  receive  the  surrender  of  the 
citadel,  a  ceremony  which  he  conducted  with  forbearance  and  deli 
cacy  to  the  unhappy  and  humiliated  foe. 

General  Smith  was  prevented  by  sickness  from  participating  in 
the  battle  of  Sierra  Gordo,  but  at  Contreros  and  the  succeeding  ac 
tions,  he  acted  a  most  conspicuous  part.  We  give  extracts  from  his 
official  account  of  these  victories : — 

"  On  the  19th  instant,  my  brigade,  with  the  rest  of  the  division, 
marched  from  San  Augustin  to  cover  the  division  of  General  Pil 
low  opening  the  road  from  San  Augustin  to  that  which  runs  through 
this  place  to  the  city,  in  order  to  turn  the  position  of  San  Antonio. 


J18  GENERAL  SMITH. 

Advancing  about  one  and  a  half  mile,  we  were  met  by  the  fire  of 
the  Mexican  batteries  opposite  to  us  on  the  San  Angel  road.  Be 
tween  us  was  about  a  half  mile  of  lava  rocks,  almost  impassable  for 
a  single  footman,  then  a  slope  down  towards  a  ravine,  on  the  oppo 
site  bank  of  which  were  the  road  and  the  enemy's  works,  on  a 
height  called  Contreros.  The  front  faced  us,  and  the  left  flank 
swept  the  road  below  it,  a  turn  forwards  in  the  road  bringing  the 
work  directly  in  the  prolongation  of  the  lower  part  of  the  road.  The 
work  had  upwards  of  twenty  large  guns,  was  full  of  infantry,  and 
large  masses  of  cavalry  and  infantry  were  behind  it  and  on  its  flanks. 
Magruder's  battery  was  ordered  forward  to  a  position  in  front  of  the 
enemy,  and  partially  covered  by  a  ledge  of  rocks.  My  brigade  was 
ordered  to  follow  and  support  it,  and  cover  the  advance  of  the  party 
making  the  read.  We  went  forward  under  a  very  heavy  fire,  and 
took  a  position  on  the  left  of  Magruder's  battery.  We  found  Lieu 
tenant  Calender's  howitzer  battery  at  this  point.  When  we  took 
this  direction,  Riley's  brigade  was  sent  to  the  right.  Magruder's 
battery  and  the  howitzer  battery  were  soon  disabled,  and,  on  ex 
amining  the  ground,  it  was  evident  that  we  were  advancing  by  the 
only  path  that  crossed  the  broken  bed  of  lava,  and  on  which  the 
enemy  were  prepared  to  receive  us,  having  cleared  away  all  the 
bushes  that  obstructed  their  view.  The  guns  could  go  no  further, 
and  the  infantry  would,  on  its  march  down  the  slope,  be  exposed  to 
a  terrible  fire,  without  knowing  whether  the  crossing  of  the  ravine 
below  was  possible.  Being  isolated  from  the  division,  I  determined 
to  try  one  of  the  enemy's  flanks ;  and  that  on  our  right  being  pre 
ferable,  as  it  would  cut  off  his  retreat,  I  determined  to  move  in  that 
direction.  Captain  Magruder  was  directed  to  open  his  fire  as  we 
passed  his  rear,  to  occupy  the  enemy,  and  mask  our  movements  to 
the  right.  This  he  did  most  effectually,  though  suffering  from  a 
great  loss,  especially  of  officers. 

"  To  replace  this  loss,  Lieutenant  Haskins  and  twenty  men  were 
detached  from  Major  Dimick's  regiment,  and  three  companies  of  the 
3d  infantry  were  left  to  support  him.  With  great  difficulty  we  suc 
ceeded  in  crossing  the  rock  for  near  a  mile,  and  descended  towards 
the  village  of  Encelda,  whose  church  was  visible  among  the  trees. 
As  we  emerged  from  the  rocks,  we  saw  immense  numbers  of  troops, 
cavalry  and  infantry,  approaching  from  Mexico,  and  forming  on  the 
slope  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  village.  We  crossed  two  small 


SMITH   AT   CONTREROS.  119 

streams  at  the  bottom  of  deep  and  difficult  gulleys,  and  found  some 
of  our  troops  in  the  village,  they  proving  to  be  four  regiments, 
chiefly  of  General  Pillow's  division,  and  under  command  of  Gene 
ral  Cadwalader,  who  immediately  reported  to  me.  The  village  lay 
entirely  on  the  other  side  of  the  main  road,  and  a  small  stream  ran 
between  them  at  the  bottom  of  a  ravine.  On  the  road,  and  between 
it  and  the  stream  was  a  garden  and  house  surrounded  by  a  high  and 
tolerably  strong  stone  wall.  The  village  was  intersected  by  narrow 
lanes  lying  between  high  dikes  enclosing  gardens  full  of  trees  and 
shrubbery — the  lanes  affording  cover,  and  the  trees  concealment  for 
the  men.  At  the  centre  stood  an  old  stone  church.  I  drew  Gene 
ral  Cadwalader's  force  up-  in  the  outer  edge  of  the  village,  facing 
the  enemy — placed  the  3d  infantry  and  rifles  in  column  by  company, 
left  in  front,  on  the  right  flank  —  occupied  the  church  with  Lieu 
tenant  Smith's  engineer  company  and  Captain  Irwin's  company  of 
the  llth  regiment — placed  Major  Dimick's  regiment  in  the  garden 
on  the  road,  to  secure  that  avenue  and  our  rear. 

"  The  enemy  was  now  formed  opposite  to  us  in  two  lines  —  the 
infantry  in  front  and  cavalry  in  the  rear — about  ten  thousand  strong. 
It  was  now  after  sunset,  when  Colonel  Riley's  brigade  arrived.  It 
had  crossed  and  gone  up  towards  Contreros  [entrenched  camp]  and 
driven  off  strong  parties  of  the  enemy.  I  now  ordered  an  attack 
on  the  enemy's  right,  intending  to  attack  in  two  columns — Colonel 
Riley's  on  the  left,  and  General  Cadwalader's  on  the  right  of  the 
former — retired  in  echellon ;  but  before  the  troops  could  be  dis 
engaged  from  the  thickets,  [the  officers  being  without  horses,]  it 
was  so  dark  that  the  enemy's  line  could  not  be  seen,  and  the  order 
for  attack  was  countermanded.  General  Cadwalader  took  position 
again  in  the  outer  edge  of  the  village ;  Riley's  brigade  parallel  to 
it  in  a  long  line  inside  ;  the  rifles,  under  Major  Loring,  on  his  right, 
and  the  3d  infantry  in  the  church-yard.  The  troops  were  without 
shelter  or  fire,  and  it  rained  all  night.  At  this  time  Lieutenant 
Tower  reported  that  he  had  been  at  the  ravine  towards  the  rear  of 
the  enemy's  works  at  Contreros,  and  thought  it  practicable  for  in 
fantry,  though  very  difficult.  We  had  now  in  front  and  on  our  left 
flank,  eighteen  thousand  Mexicans,  with  between  twenty-five  and 
thirty  guns — among  the  troops  six  or  seven  thousand  cavalry.  We 
were,  at  most,  three  thousand  three  hundred  strong,  and  without  ar 
tillery  or  cavalry ;  and  it  was  evident  we  could  only  maintain  our 

M 


120  GENERAL   SMITH. 

position,  which  was  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  commanding 
general,  by  the  most  prompt  and  energetic  action.  I  therefore  di 
rected  an  attack  on  the  works  at  Contreros,  [the  entrenched  camp,] 
by  turning  their  rear  before  day  ;  and  Captain  Lee,  of  the  engineers, 
offered  to  return  to  General  Scott,  (a  most  difficult  task,)  and  inform 
him  of  our  position,  and  that  I  would  march  out  at  three  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  so  that  any  diversion  that  he  could  make  in  our  favour  from 
that  side  might  be  prepared  accordingly. 

"  At  precisely  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  20th,  the  troops 
commenced  their  march.  It  had  rained  all  night,  and  the  men  had 
lain  in  the  mud,  without  fire,  and  suffering  from  cold.  It  rained 
now,  and  was  so  dark  that  an  object  six  feet  off  could  not  be  seen. 
The  men  were  ordered  to  keep  within  touch  of  each  other,  so  that 
the  rear  could  not  go  astray.  Lieutenant  Tower,  of  the  engineers, 
with  Lieutenant  Brooks,  acting  assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  2d 
division,  now  acting  in  my  staff,  had,  during  the  night,  reconnoitred 
the  pass,  to  assure  the  practicability  of  the  march.  The  path  was 
narrow,  full  of  rocks  and  mud,  and  so  difficult  was  the  march  that 
it  was  daylight  before  the  head  of  Cadwaiader's  brigade  got  out  of 
the  village,  where  the  path  descends  to  the  ravine ;  and  as  the 
march  was  by  a  flank,  the  command  was  stretched  out  thrice  its 
length.  Having  followed  up  the  ravine  to  a  point  where  it  seemed 
possible  to  get  at  the  rear  of  the  work,  the  head  was  halted,  and  the 
rear  closed  up ;  many  loads  that  were  wet  were  drawn,  and  Riley 
formed  two  columns  by  divisions. 

"  He  thus  advanced  further  up  the  ravine,  turning  to  his  left,  and 
rising  over  the  bank,  stood  fronting  the  rear  of  the  work,  but  still 
sheltered  from  its  fire  by  a  slight  acclivity  before  him.  Having  re 
formed  his  ranks,  he  ascended  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  was  in  full 
view  of  the  enemy,  who  immediately  opened  a  warm  fire,  not  only 
from  the  work,  but  on  his  right  flank.  Throwing  out  his  two  first 
divisions  as  skirmishers,  he  rushed  down  the  slope  to  the  work. 
The  engineer  company  and  rifles  had  been  thrown  across  an  inter 
vening  ravine,  under  the  brow  of  the  slope,  and  from  that  position 
swept  it  in  front  of  his  column,  and  then,  inclining  towards  their  left, 
joined  in  the  attack  on  the  troops  outside  of  the  left  bank  of  the  fort. 
In  the  mean  time,  General  Cadwalader  followed  the  route  taken  by 
Riley,  and  forming  his  columns  as  the  troops  came  up,  moved  on 
to  his  (Riley's)  support.  The  first  brigade  had  been  ordered  to  fol- 


SMITH   AT   CONTREROS.  121 

low  the  same  route ;  but,  while  it  was  still  marching  in  that  direc 
tion  by  its  right  flank  up  the  ravine,  and  nearly  opposite  the  work, 
seeing  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  on  its  left  flank,  I  ordered  Major 
Dimick  to  face  the  brigade  to  the  left,  and,  advancing  in  line,  attack 
this  force  in  flank.  This  was  done  in  the  finest  style,  and  the  1st 
artillery  and  3d  infantry,  mounting  the  bank  of  the  ravine,  rushing 
down  the  next,  and  up  its  opposite  bank,  met  the  enemy  outside  of 
the  work  just  as  Riley's  brigade  poured  into  it,  and  the  whole  giving 
way.  Cavalry,  formed  in  line  for  the  charge,  yielding  to  the  bayo 
nets  of  our  foot,  the  rout  was  complete,  while  Riley's  brigade  cleared 
the  work,  and  planted  their  colours  on  it.  The  two  first  pieces  cap 
tured,  which  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  4th  artillery,  proved  to  be 
the  pieces  lost  (but  without  loss  of  honour)  by  a  company  of  that 
very  regiment  at  Buena  Vista.  Leaving  a  force  to  collect  and  guard 
the  captured  ordnance,  the  pursuit  was  continued  down  the  road. 

"This,  it  will  be  recollected,  passed  not  more  than  half  a  mile 
off  the  garden  and  house  occupied  by  a  part  of  General  Shields' 
brigade,  placed  there  to  intercept  the  retreat  of  the  enemy.  This 
skilful  and  gallant  officer,  when  we  marched,  had  spread  his  men 
over  the  line  we  had  occupied,  and  directed  them  to  make  fires  to 
wards  daylight,  as  though  preparing  their  breakfast.  The  enemy 
in  front  had,  during  the  night,  placed  batteries  along  the  line,  and 
in  the  morning  moved  detachments  forward  to  take  in  flank  the  at 
tack  he  saw  we  were  meditating  the  night  before,  which  he  was 
prepared  to  meet ;  supposing,  from  the  indications  he  found,  that 
we  were  still  in  force  in  the  village.  When,  after  daylight,  he  saw 
a  column  moving  on  Contreros,  [the  entrenched  camp,]  and  already 
prepared  to  turn  it,  he  must  have  supposed  we  had  been  strongly 
reinforced  ;  for  his  movements  to  and  fro  indicated  great  perplexity. 
His  doubts  were  soon  resolved,  however,  by  the  loss  of  Contreros, 
[the  camp,]  and  he  immediately  commenced  a  hasty  retreat  along 
the  top  of  the  hill,  inclining  towards  the  San  Angel  road.  Shields' 
force  (five  or  six  hundred  men)  having,  under  his  skilful  direction, 
thus  disposed  of  one  enemy,  he  turned  to  the  other,  who,  in  their 
flight,  found  themselves  intercepted  at  the  garden,  and,  under  the 
sure  fire  of  the  South  Carolina  regiment,  broke  away  over  the  op 
posite  fields,  and,  taking  shelter  in  the  ditches  and  ravines,  escaped, 
many  of  them,  to  the  rocks.  Two  squadrons  of  cavalry,  either  by 
chance  or  a  wise  design,  in  a  narrow  part  of  the  road  between  the 
11 


122  GENERAL   SMITH. 

wall  and  dyke,  laid  down  their  arms,  and  so  choked  the  way,  that 
the  pursuit  was  interrupted  for  upwards  of  twenty  minutes,  which 
sufficed  (we  having  no  cavalry)  for  the  safety  of  many  of  the  fugi 
tives.  A  large  body  escaped  upwards  towards  the  mountains.  I 
did  not  pursue  them,  being  entirely  out  of  our  direction. 

"  Accounts  from  Mexican  officers,  intercepted  since  the  battle, 
inform  us  that  there  were  seven  thousand  in  and  about  Contreros, 
[the  entrenched  camp,]  commanded  by  General  Valencia,  and  up 
wards  of  twelve  thousand  in  front  of  Encelda,  [or  the  hamlet  of 
Contreros,]  in  reserve,  commanded  by  General  Santa  Anna.  We 
killed  seven  hundred,  and  took  fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  among 
them  several  generals.  We  captured  twenty-two  pieces  of  brass 
ordnance,  viz :  four  Spanish  sixteen-pounders,  four  eight-inch  how 
itzers,  two  five  and  a  half-inch  howitzers,  six  six-pounders,  and  six 
smaller  pieces,  with  a  large  amount  of  shells  and  other  ammunition. 
We  also  took  seven  hundred  pack  mules  and  many  horses,  and  an 
immense  number  of  small-arms,  which  we  destroyed.  After  direct 
ing  the  prisoners  and  property  to  be  collected,  I  directed  the  pursuit 
to  be  continued,  and  was  forming  the  column,  when  General  Tvviggs 
arrived.  He  immediately  ordered  the  most  vigorous  pursuit,  and 
we  moved  forwards.  As  we  approached  San  Angel,  the  rifles  were 
again  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers,  and  entered  the  town  at  the 
heels  of  the  enemy's  lancers,  capturing  an  ammunition  wagon. 
Here  General  Pillow  assumed  command,  and  at  Coyoacan  the 
commander-in-chief.  *  *  *  * 

"  At  this  time  the  tremendous  fire  from  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
church,  showed  clearly,  not  only  that  there  was  a  strong  force  sta 
tioned  there,  but  that  there  was  also  a  more  considerable  work  than 
was  at  first  supposed  ;  but  being  all  surrounded  by  very  high  corn, 
its  form  could  not  be  discovered.  It  afterwards  proved  that  the 
place  was  regularly  fortified.  The  church  buildings  formed  a  large 
square;  the  lower  front  towards  us  was  chiefly  a  wall  scaffolded  for 
infantry.  Behind  it  rose  a  higher  building,  also  covered  with  infan 
try  ;  behind  it  the  church,  and  the  high  steeple  on  its  right  flank, 
also  filled  with  men.  In  front  of  the  first  was  a  curtain,  connecting 
two  salient  angles  which  flanked  it,  and  were  continued  back  to  the 
side  walls  of  the  church.  It  was  garrisoned  by  about  two  thousand 
men,  and  mounted  seven  pieces.  What  was  supposed  the  one-gun 
battery,  was  the  right  salient  angle  which  enfiladed  the  road  from 


SMITH   AT   CHURUBUSCO.  123 

Coyoacan  ;  so  that  when  the  1st  artillery  attempted  to  turn  it,  they 
found  themselves  in  front  of  this  curtain,  and  exposed  to  all  the  mus 
ketry  of  the  walls  beyond.  They,  however,  stood  their  ground 
with  great  loss,  getting  such  cover  as  the  ground  afforded,  and  firing 
at  the  embrasures  when  opportunity  offered.  It  was  now  reported 
that  the  other  brigade  (Riley's)  was  ordered  round  to  the  right  of 
the  work,  and  General  Pillow's  division  to  its  left.  I  therefore 
ordered  the  2d  infantry  to  be  ready,  so  soon  as  the  fire  of  these  corps 
began  to  tell,  to  advance  under  the  cover  of  some  huts  near  the 
right  bastion,  and,  after  silencing  the  fire  of  its  musketry,  to  assault 
it.  In  the  mean  time,  Taylor's  battery  had  continued  its  fire 
uninterrupted  by  the  severest  shower  of  grape,  canister,  musketry, 
round  shot  and  shell,  within  short  musket  range,  that  was  ever 
witnessed.  The  conduct  of  Captain  Taylor,  Lieutenant  French, 
and  the  men  who  remained  unhurt,  was  the  admiration  of  all  who 
witnessed  it.  The  pieces  were  served  as  though  on  drill,  while 
two  of  the  officers,  Lieutenants  Martin  and  Boynton,  and  twenty 
men  wounded,  and  fifteen  horses  crippled,  laid  around,  and  testified 
to  the  danger  of  their  position.  Hearing  now  the  fire  from  the 
other  corps,  and  finding  that  of  the  work  to  be  less  steady,  I  directed 
Captain  Alexander  (commanding  the  3d  infantry)  to  advance  to  the 
position  indicated,  and  commence  his  work. 

"After  clearing  the  ramparts  partially  of  their  men,  the  3d 
rushed  over  the  bastion,  led  by  Captain  J.  M.  Smith  and  Lieu 
tenant  Shepherd,  and  their  companies,  and  a  part  of  the  1st  artil 
lery,  over  the  curtain,  when  the  garrison  held  out  a  white  flag,  and 
urrendered  to  Captain  Smith,  who  was  fortunate  enough  to  be 
the  first  in  the  work.  Many  had  escaped  from  the  back  of  the 
church;  but  one  hundred  and  four  officers,  among  them  several 
generals,  and  eleven  hundred  and  fifty-five  men  were  counted  after 
the  surrender.  It  is  proper  here  to  observe,  in  order  to  prevent 
errors  hereafter,  that  after  Captain  Alexander's  command  had 
received  the  surrender  of  the  garrison,  and  had  gone  up  into  the 
gallery  of  the  front  house  with  General  Rincon,  from  which  he  was 
displaying  the  colours  of  his  regiment,  a  staff  officer  from  another 
division,  who  had  seen  the  white  flag  still  flying,  rode  into  the 
work  to  receive  the  surrender  which  had  been  made  some  time 
before  to  Captain  Alexander.  Seven  pieces  of  brass  cannon, 
much  ammunition  and  small-arms,  the  prisoners  before  mentioned, 

M2 


124  GENERAL   SMITH. 

and  an  important  position,  were  the  fruits  of  this  victory.  I  should 
have  mentioned  before  that  Captain  Craig  had  in  the  morning 
rejoined  the  regiment  with  the  three  companies  left  with  Captain 
Magruder;  and  those  companies  of  riflemen  who  had  been  left 
in  the  pedregal,  [field  of  rocks  and  lava,]  had  also  joined  the 
regiment." 

General  Smith  was  appointed  one  of  the  negotiators  for  the 
armistice,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  subsequent  operations  be 
fore  the  capital ;  the  detailed  accounts  of  which  have  been  given 
elsewhere.  He  is  now  with  the  commander-in-chief,  at  the 
capital. 


GENERAL  SHIELDS. 


Page  126. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL   SHIELDS. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JAMES  SHIELDS,  though  appointed  to  the 
army  from  Illinois,  is  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  marched  with  the 
Central  Division,  under  General  Wool,  but  left  on  its  arrival  at  Mon- 
clova,  thus  losing  an  opportunity  to  participate  in  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista.  He  was  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  in  the  battle  of  Sierra 
Gordo  received  a  musket-ball  through  the  lungs.  His  recovery 
from  this  wound  seems  almost  miraculous. 

The  services  he  performed  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  August,  to 
gether  with  his  admirable  deception  of  the  enemy  during  their 
retreat  from  Contreros,  we  give  in  his  own  words : 

"  Directing  my  march  upon  the  village  near  Contreros,  the  troops 
had  to  pass  over  ground  covered  with  rocks  and  crags,  and  rilled 
with  chasms,  which  rendered  the  road  almost  impassable.  A  deep 
rugged  ravine,  along  the  bed  of  which  rolled  a  rapid  stream,  was 
passed,  after  dark,  with  great  difficulty  and  exertion ;  and  to  rest 
the  wearied  troops  after  crossing,  I  directed  them  to  lie  upon  their 
arms  until  midnight.  While  occupying  this  position,  two  strong 
pickets,  thrown  out  by  my  orders,  discovered,  fired  upon,  and  drove 
back  a  body  of  Mexican  infantry  moving  through  the  fields  in  a 
direction  from  their  position  towards  the  city.  I  have  since  learned 
that  an  attempt  had  in  like  manner  been  made  by  the  enemy  to 
pass  the  position  on  the  main  road  occupied  by  the  1st  regiment  of 
artillery,  and  with  a  like  want  of  success.  About  midnight  I  again 
resumed  the  march,  and  joined  Brigadier-General  Smith  in  the  vil 
lage  already  referred  to. 

"  General  Smith,  previous  to  my  arrival,  had  made  the  most  judi 
cious  arrangement  for  turning  and  surprising  the  Mexican  position 
about  daybreak,  and  with  which  I  could  not  wish  to  interfere.  This 
11*  (125) 


126  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   SHIELDS. 

cast  upon  my  command  the  necessity  of  holding  the  position  to  be 
evacuated  by  General  Smith,  and  which  was  threatened  by  the 
enemy's  artillery  and  infantry  on  the  right,  and  a  large  force  of  his 
cavalry  on  the  left.  About  daybreak  the  enemy  opened  a  brisk  fire 
of  grape  and  round  shot  upon  the  church  and  village  in  which  my 
brigade  was  posted,  as  also  upon  a  part  of  our  own  troops  displayed 
to  divert  him  on  his  right  and  front  —  evidently  unaware  of  the 
movement  in  progress  to  turn  his  position  by  the  left  and  rear. 
This  continued  until  Colonel  Riley's  brigade  opened  its  fire  from 
the  rear,  which  was  delivered  with  such  terrible  effect,  that  the 
whole  Mexican  force  was  thrown  into  the  utmost  consternation. 

"  At  this  juncture,  I  ordered  the  two  regiments  of  my  command 
to  throw  themselves  on  the  main  road,  by  which  the  enemy  must 
retire,  to  intercept  and  cut  off  his  retreat ;  and,  although  officers 
and  men  had  suffered  severely  during  the  march  of  the  night,  and 
from  exposure  without  shelter  or  cover  to  the  incessant  rain  until 
daybreak,  this  movement  was  executed  in  good  order,  and  with  ra 
pidity.  The  Palmetto  regiment,  crossing  a  deep  ravine,  deployed 
on  both  sides  of  the  road,  and  opened  a  most  destructive  fire  upon  the 
mingled  masses  of  infantry  and  cavalry ;  and  the  New  York  regi 
ment,  brought  into  line  lower  down,  and  on  the  roadside,  delivered 
its  fire  with  a  like  effect.  At  this  point  many  of  the  enemy  were 
killed  and  wounded  ;  some  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  captured, 
of  which  twenty-five  were  officers,  and  amongst  the  latter  was 
General  Nicolas  Mendoza. 

"  In  the  meanwhile  the  enemy's  cavalry,  about  three  thousand 
strong,  which  had  been  threatening  our  position  during  the  morning, 
moved  down  towards  us  in  good  order,  and  as  if  to  attack.  I  imme 
diately  recalled  the  infantry,  to  place  them  in  position  to  meet  the 
threatened  movement ;  but  soon  the  cavalry  changed  its  direction 
and  retreated  toward  the  capital.  I  now  received  an  order  from 
General  Twiggs  to  advance  by  the  main  road  towards  Mexico  ;  and 
having  posted  Captain  Marshall's  company  of  South  Carolina 
volunteers  and  Captain  Taylor's  New  York  volunteers,  in  charge 
of  the  prisoners  and  wounded,  I  moved  off  with  the  remainder  of 
my  force,  and  joined  the  positions  of  the  2d  and  3d  divisions,  already 
en  route  on  the  main  road.  On  this  march  we  were  joined  by  the 
general-in-chief,  who  assumed  command  of  the  whole,  and  the  march 
continued  uninterrupted  until  we  arrived  before  Churubusco.  Here 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL   SHIELDS.  127 

the  enemy  was  found  strongly  fortified,  and  posted  with  his  main 
force — probably  twenty-five  thousand. 

*  *  *  #*#### 

"Leaving  Coyoacan  by  a  left-hand  road,  and  advancing  about  a 
mile  upon  it,  I  moved  thence  with  my  command  towards  the  right, 
through  a  heavy  corn-field,  and  gained  an  open  but  swampy  field, 
in  which  is  situated  the  hacienda  de  Jos  Partales.  On  the  edge  of  this 
field,  beyond  the  hacienda,  I  discovered  the  road  by  which  the  ene 
my  must  retire  from  Churubusco,  and  found  that  his  reserve  of  about 
four  thousand  infantry  already  occupied  it,  just  in  rear  of  the  town. 
As  my  command  arrived,  I  established  the  right  upon  a  point  re 
commended  by  Captain  Lee,  engineer  officer,  in  whose  skill  and 
judgment  I  had  the  utmost  confidence,  and  commenced  a  move 
ment  to  the  left  to  flank  the  enemy  on  his  right,  and  throw  my  troops 
between  him  and  the  city ;  but  finding  his  right  supported  by  a 
heavy  body  of  cavalry  of  some  three  thousand  strong,  and  seeing, 
too,  that  with  his  infantry  he  answered  to  my  movements  by  a  cor 
responding  one  towards  his  right  flank,  gaining  ground  faster  than 
I  could,  owing  to  the  heavy  mud  and  swamp  through  which  I  had 
to  operate,  I  withdrew  the  men  to  the  cover  of  the  hacienda,  and, 
determined  to  attack  him  upon  his  front.  I  selected  the  Palmetto* 
regiment  as  the  base  of  my  line,  and  this  gallant  regiment  moved 
forward  firmly  and  rapidly,  under  a  fire  of  musketry  as  terrible, 
perhaps,  as  any  which  soldiers  ever  faced ;  the  New  York,  12th 
and  15th  deployed  gallantly  on  the  right,  and  the  9th  on  the  left, 
and  the  whole  advanced,  opening  their  fire  as  they  came  up,  and 
moving  steadily  forward.  The  enemy  began  to  waver,  and  when 
my  order  to  charge  was  given,  the  men  rushed  upon  and  scattered 
his  broken  ranks.  As  we  reached  the  road,  the  advance  of  Worth's 
command  appeared,  driving  the  enemy  from  his  stronghold  of  Chu 
rubusco.  I  took  command  of  the  front,  and  continued  in  pursuit 
until  passed  by  Harney  with  his  cavalry,  who  followed  the  routed 
foe  into  the  very  gates  of  the  city. 

"  In  this  terrible  battle,  in  which  a  strongly-fortified  enemy  fought 
behind  his  works,  under  the  walls  of  his  capital,  our  loss  is  neces 
sarily  severe.  This  loss,  I  regret  to  say,  has  fallen  most  severely 
upon  my  command.  In  the  two  regiments  of  my  own  brigade, 
numbering  about  six  hundred  in  the  fight,  the  loss  is  reported  two 
hundred  and  forty  in  killed  and  wounded. 


128  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   SHIELDS. 

"  In  this  last  engagement  my  command  captured  three  hundred 
and  eighty  prisoners,  including  six  officers.  Of  this  number  forty- 
two  had  deserted  from  the  American  army  during  the  war,  and  at 
their  head  we  found  the  notorious  O'Reilly,  who  had  fought  against 
our  troops  at  Monterey  and  elsewhere.  A  particular  and  detailed 
report  of  the  loss,  as  also  of  the  prisoners  captured  by  this  command, 
accompanies  this  report." 

In  the  recent  glorious  battles  of  Mexico,  Shields  has  exhibited 
the  same  reckless  daring,  the  same  impetuosity  and  ability  which 
he  evinced  at  Sierra  Gordo.  He  again  received  a  severe,  though 
not  dangerous  wound. 

The  personal  appearance  of  the  general  is  thus  described  by  a 
visitor  during  his  recent  tour  to  the  United  States,  where  he  still 
remains. 

"  In  the  saloon  we  saw  the  gallant  General  Shields.  He  is  stouter 
than  when  we  saw  him,  some  two  years  since,  at  General  Taylor's 
camp  at  Camargo.  He  then,  in  his  undress  military  uniform, 
looked  like  an  elegant  gentleman.  He  had  not  a  wrinkle  on  his 
brow,  and  his  countenance  ever  wore  a  smile.  His  beard  was 
closely  shaven,  and  his  eyes  were  lighted  up  with  the  brilliant  fire 
of  hope.  And  yet,  how  a  short  term  of  service  alters  a  man  ? 
Yesterday  he  looked  like  the  hero  of  many  wars.  His  brow  was 
seamed  with  the  lines  of  fatigue  and  suffering,  and  his  upper  lip 
was  garnished  with  a  thick  moustache.  His  complexion  was 
bronzed,  his  arm,  from  a  late  wound,  hung  in  a  sling;  but  his  eye 
was  still  brilliant  with  martial  fire.  There  were  hundreds  who 
flocked  around  him  and  sought  to  grasp  his  hand,  and  all  were  re 
ceived  by  him  with  the  most  cordial  warmth  and  friendship.  Those 
around  looked  upon  the  gallant  hero  with  feelings  of  respect  and 
admiration,  and  there  was  not  one  in  that  broad  saloon  who  went 
out,  without  saying  in  his  heart,  '  that  man  is  a  true  soldier.' " 


BRIGADIEK-GENERAL  LANE. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JOSEPH  LANE  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
but  was  appointed  to  the  army  from  Illinois.  He  entered  the  army 
July  1st,  1846,  and  marched  to  Mexico  as  one  of  General  Wool's 
column.  The  following  is  his  own  account  of  his  operations  at 
Buena  Vista : — 

"  About  nine  o'clock  I  was  informed  by  Colonel  Churchill  that 
the  enemy  were  advancing  toward  my  position  in  great  force,  shel 
tering  themselves  in  a  deep  ravine  which  runs  up  towards  the 
mountain  directly  in  my  front.  I  immediately  put  my  columns  in 
motion,  consisting  of  those  eight  battalion  companies,  and  Lieutenant 
O'Brien's  battery,  amounting  in  all  to  about  four  hundred  men,  to 
meet  them.  The  enemy,  when  they  deployed  from  the  ravine  and 
appeared  on  the  ridge,  displayed  a  force  of  about  four  thousand  in 
fantry,  supported  by  a  large  body  of  lancers.  The  infantry  imme 
diately  opened  a  most  destructive  fire;  which  was  returned  by  my 
small  command,  both  infantry  and  artillery,  in  a  most  gallant  manner 
for  some  time.  I  soon  perceived  that  I  was  too  far  from  the  enemy 
for  my  muskets  to  take  that  deadly  effect  which  I  desired,  and  im 
mediately  sent  my  aid-de-camp  to  Lieutenant  O'Brien,  directing  him 
to  place  his  battery  in  a  more  advanced  position,  with  the  determi 
nation  of  advancing  my  whole  line.  By  this  movement  I  should 
not  only  be  near  the  enemy,  but  should  also  bring  the  company  on 
my  extreme  left  more  completely  into  action,  as  the  brow  of  the  hill 
impeded  their  fire.  By  this  time  the  enemy's  fire  of  musketry,  and 
the  raking  fire  of  ball  and  grape-shot  of  their  battery  posted  on  my 
left  flank  had  become  terrible,  and  my  infantry  instead  of  advancing 
as  was  ordered,  I  regret  to  say,  retired  in  some  disorder  from  their 
position,  notwithstanding  my  own  and  the  severe  efforts  of  my  offi 
cers  to  prevent  them.  About  the  same  time,  the  riflemen  and  ca- 

N  (129) 


130  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   LANE. 

valry  on  the  mountains  retired  to  the  plain  below.  The  Arkansas 
cavalry,  who  had  been  posted  by  your  orders  in  my  rear,  at  the  base 
of  the  mountain,  to  act  as  circumstances  might  require,  also  left  their 
position,  the  whole  making  a  retreating  movement  along  the  plain 
towards  the  rear.  At  the  same  time  one  of  the  Illinois  regiments, 
not  under  my  command,  but  stationed  at  some  distance  in  rear  of 
the  right  of  my  position,  also  retired  to  the  rear.  These  troops,  the 
most  of  them,  were  immediately  rallied,  and  fought  during  the 
whole  day  like  veterans.  A  few  of  them,  I  regret  to  say,  did  not 
return  to  the  field  at  all.  By  this  apparent  success  the  enemy  were 
much  elated,  and  poured  down  along  the  side  of  the  mountain,  on 
the  extreme  left  of  the  field,  their  thousands  of  infantry  and  lancers, 
and  formed  themselves  in  good  order  along  the  mountain  fronting 
perpendicularly  to  where  our  lines  had  been  posted.  At  this  critical 
juncture,  the  Mississippi  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Davis,  arrived  on  the  field,  and  being  joined  by  a  part  of  the  2d 
Indiana,  met  the  enemy  in  a  most  gallant  style,  and,  after  a  severe 
and  bloody  engagement,  repulsed  them  with  great  loss.  In  the 
mean  time  a  large  body  of  lancers,  six  or  eight  hundred  in  num 
ber,  who  had  passed  down  along  the  left  toward  our  rear,  made 
a  most  desperate  charge  upon  the'Arkansas  and  Kentucky  cavalry, 
with  a  view  of  cutting  off  and  plundering  the  baggage-train  of  the 
army,  which  was  at  a  rancho  near  the  battle-field. 

"This  charge  was  met  and  resisted  most  gallantly  by  those 
cavalry,  aided  by  about  two  hundred  infantry  who  had  taken  refuge 
there  after  they  had  retired  from  the  field.  This  repulse  discouraged 
the  enemy;  and  the  Mississippi  regiment  and  part  of  the  2d  Indiana, 
being  joined  by  the  3d  Indiana  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel 
James  H.  Lane,  now  advanced  up  towards  the  foot  of  the  mountain 
for  the  purpose  of  dislodging  the  enemy's  force  stationed  there.  In 
this  enterprise  I  was  aided  by  Captain 's  battery  of  light  artil 
lery,  and  it  was  crowned  with  complete  success,  the  enemy  re 
treating  in  disorder,  and  with  immense  loss,  back  along  the  side  of 
the  mountain  to  the  position  which  they  had  occupied  in  the  morn 
ing  ;  some  flying  in  terror  up  the  sides  of  the  mountain,  and  into  the 
ravines,  while  a  few  were  taken  prisoners.  Amongst  the  last  des 
perate  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  regain  and  hold  the  left  of  the  field, 
was  a  charge  made  by  a  large  body  of  lancers  upon  my  command. 
This  charge,  for  galkntry  and  determined  bravery  on  both  sides, 


LANE   AT   HUAMANTLA.  131 

has  seldom  been  equalled.  The  forces  on  either  side  were  nearly 
equal  in  numbers.  Instead  of  throwing  my  command  into  squares 
to  resist  the  charge,  the  enemy  were  received  in  line  of  two  ranks, 
my  force  reserving  its  fire  until  the  enemy  were  within  about  se 
venty  yards,  which  was  delivered  with  a  deadly  aim,  and  which 
proved  most  destructive  in  its  effects  —  the  enemy  flying  in  every 
direction  in  disorder,  and  making  a  precipitate  retreat  towards  their 
own  lines.  About  sunset  the  enemy  withdrew  from  the  field,  and 
the  battle  ceased.  In  a  brief  report  it  is  impossible  to  enter  into  the 
details  of  a  day  like  the  23d.  The  fighting  throughout  consisted  of 
different  engagements  in  different  parts  of  the  field,  the  whole  of 
them  warm  and  well-contested  ;  many  of  them  bloody  and  terrible. 
The  men  under  my  command  actually  discharged  eighty,  and  some 
ninety,  rounds  of  cartridges  at  the  enemy  during  the  day.  The  2d 
regiment  of  my  command,  which  opened  the  battle  on  the  plain  in 
such  gallant  style,  deserves  a  passing  remark.  I  shall  attempt  to 
make  no  apology  for  their  retreat ;  for  it  was  their  duty  to  stand  or 
die  to  the  last  man  until  they  received  orders  to  retire ;  but  I  desire 
to  call  your  attention  to  one  fact  connected  with  this  affair.  They 
remained  in  their  position,  in  line,  receiving  the  fire  of  three  or 
four  thousand  infantry  in  front,  exposed  at  the  same  time  on  the 
left  flank  to  a  most  desperate  raking  fire,  from  the  enemy's  battery, 
posted  within  point-blank  shot,  until  they  had  deliberately  dis 
charged  twenty  rounds  of  cartridges  at  the  enemy." 

On  the  9th  of  October,  1847,  General  Lane  fought  the  battle  of 
Huamantla ;  and  on  the  18th,  he  bombarded  and  captured  the  town 
of  Atlixco.  His  despatches  contain  full  details  of  these  two  affairs  : — 

"After  my  departure  from  Vera  Cruz,  and  when  near  the  San 
Juan  river,  a  party  of  guerillas  was  observed  near  the  hacienda  of 
Santa  Anna.  Captain  Lewis's  company  of  mounted  volunteers  was 
detached  in  pursuit;  a  portion  of  the  command,  under  Lieutenant 
Lilley,  came  upon  the  enemy,  and  had  a  smart  skirmish  with  them. 
Lieutenant  Lilley  behaved  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  rallying  and 
encouraging  his  men  under  a  severe  fire.  Upon  leaving  Paso  de 
Ovejas,  the  rear-guard  was  fired  upon  by  a  small  guerilla  force,  and 
I  regret  to  have  to  announce  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Cline,  who  was 
shot  in  the  affair.  He  is  reported  to  have  been  a  most  energetic  and 
efficient  young  officer,  belonging  to  Captain  Lewis's  company  of 
Louisiana  mounted  volunteers. 


132  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   LANE. 

"  At  various  points  on  the  road  rumours  reached  me  that  a  large 
force  was  concentrating  between  Perote  and  Puebla.  These  rumours 
were  confirmed  on  my  arrival  at  the  former  place,  and  I  also  received 
the  additional  intelligence  that  Santa  Anna  in  person  commanded 
them,  having  about  four  thousand  men  and  six  pieces  of  artillery. 
No  molestation  occurred  until  my  arrival  at  the  hacienda  of  San 
Antonio  Tamaris,  at  which  place,  through  the  medium  of  my  spies, 
I  learned  that  the  enemy  were  at  the  city  of  Huamantla.  My  force 
consisted  of  Colonel  Wynkoop's  battalion,  (from  Perote,)  Colonel 
Gorman's  regiment  of  Indiana  volunteers,  Captain  Heintzelman's 
battalion  of  six  companies,  Major  Lally's  regiment  of  four  companies 
of  mounted  men,  under  command  of  Captain  Samuel  H.  Walker, 
mounted  riflemen,  and  five  pieces  of  artillery  under  command  of 
Captain  George  Taylor,  3d  artillery,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Field, 
artillery.  On  arriving  near  the  city,  at  about  one  o'clock  P.  M., 
Captain  Walker,  commanding  the  advance  guard,  (of  horsemen,) 
was  ordered  to  move  forward  ahead  of  the  column,  (but  within  sup 
porting  distance,)  to  the  entrance  of  the  city,  and  if  the  enemy  were 
in  force,  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  infantry  before  entering.  When 
within  about  three  miles,  parties  of  horsemen  being  seen  making 
their  way  through  the  fields  towards  the  city,  Captain  Walker  com 
manded  a  gallop.  Owing  to  the  thick  maguey  bushes  lining  the 
sides  of  the  road,  it  was  impossible  to  distinguish  his  further  move 
ments.  But  a  short  time  had  elapsed  when  firing  was  heard  from 
the  city.  The  firing  continuing,  the  column  was  pressed  forward 
as  rapidly  as  possible.  At  this  time  a  body  of  about  two  thousand 
lancers  was  seen  hurrying  over  the  hills  towards  the  city.  I  directed 
Colonel  Gorman,  with  his  regiment,  to  advance  towards  and  enter 
the  west  side  of  the  city,  while  Colonel  Wynkoop's  battalion,  with 
the  artillery,  moved  towards  the  east  side,  Captain  Heintzelman's 
moving  on  his  right,  and  Major  Lally's  constituting  the  reserve. 

"  Upon  arriving  at  the  entrance  to  the  city,  Captain  Walker  dis 
covering  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  in  the  plaza,  (about  five  hun 
dred  in  number,)  ordered  a  charge.  A  hand-to-hand  conflict  took 
place  between  the  forces ;  but  so  resolute  was  the  charge,  that  the 
enemy  were  obliged  to  give  way,  being  driven  from  their  guns. 
They  were  pursued  by  our  dragoons  for  some  distance,  but  the  pur 
suit  was  checked  by  the  arrival  of  their  reinforcements.  Colonel 
Gorman's  regiment,  on  arriving  at  the  entrance  to  the  city  at  about 


LANE   AT   ATLIXCO.  133 

i 

the  same  time  as  the  reinforcements  of  the  enemy,  opened  a  well- 
directed  fire,  which  succeeded  in  routing  them.  With  the  left  wing 
of  his  regiment  he  proceeded  in  person  towards  the  upper  part  of 
the  town,  where  the  enemy  still  were,  and  succeeded  in  dispersing 
them.  Colonel  Wynkoop's  command,  with  the  batteries,  assumed 
their  position ;  but  before  they  were  within  range  the  enemy  fled  in 
haste.  The  same  occurred  with  Captain  Heintzelman's  command. 
The  enemy  entering  the  town  becoming  somewhat  scattered,  Major 
Lally,  with  his  regiment,  proceeded  across  the  fields  to  cut  off  his 
rear  and  intercept  his  retreat.  This  movement  not  being  perceived, 
I  ordered  him  to  advance  towards  the  town ;  thus  depriving  him, 
unintentionally,  of  an  opportunity  of  doing  good  service.  Captain 
Walker's  force  had  been  engaged  some  three-quarters  of  an  hour 
before  the  infantry  arrived  to  his  support.  He  succeeded  in  capturing 
two  pieces  of  artillery  from  the  enemy,  but  was  not  able  to  use  them, 
owing  to  the  want  of  priming  tubes,  although  every  effort  was  made. 
On  this  occasion  every  officer  and  soldier  behaved  with  the  utmost 
coolness,  and  my  warmest  thanks  are  due  to  them.  *  *  * 
"  The  colours  of  the  Indiana  regiment  were  planted  on  the  arsenal 
the  moment  the  enemy  were  routed.  This  victory  is  saddened  by 
the  loss  of  one  of  the  most  chivalric,  noble-hearted  men  that  graced 
the  profession  of  arms — Captain  Samuel  H.  Walker,  of  the  mounted 
riflemen.  Foremost  in  the  advance,  he  had  routed  the  enemy  when 
he  fell  mortally  wounded.  In  his  death  the  service  has  met  with  a 
loss  which  cannot  easily  be  repaired.  Our  total  loss  is  thirteen  killed 
and  eleven  wounded.  We  succeeded  in  capturing  one  six-pounder 
brass  gun  and  one  mountain  howitzer,  both  mounted,  together  with 
a  large  quantity  of  ammunition  and  wagons,  which  I  was  compelled 
to  destroy.  The  enemy's  loss  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty." 
The  following  is  his  report  of  the  taking  of  Atlixco : 
"About  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  near  Santa  Isabella,  seven 
leagues  from  this  place,  the  advance  guard  of  the  enemy  was  dis 
covered.  A  halt  was  ordered  until  the  cavalry,  which  had  pre 
viously  been  detached  to  examine  a  hacienda,  should  arrive.  The 
enemy,  with  his  accustomed  bravado,  came  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  in 
small  parties,  firing  their  escopetas  and  waving  their  lances.  On 
the  arrival  of  the  cavalry  a  forward  movement  was  made  by  the 
column.  A  large  deep  ravine  appearing  on  the  left  of  the  road, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Moore,  with  his  Ohio  regiment,  was  ordered  to 
13  N2 


134  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  LANE. 

flank  it,  Major  Lally  with  his  battalion  leading  the  advance.  Our 
column  had  scarcely  commenced  its  movement,  when  signs  of  con 
fusion  were  visible  among  the  enemy,  in  consequence  of  which, 
the  cavalry  was  ordered  to  charge,  follow  them  up,  and  engage 
them  until  the  infantry  could  arrive.  Lieutenant  Pratt,  with  his 
battery,  was  ordered  to  follow  in  rear  of  the  dragoons  at  a  gallop. 
Had  this  movement  been  performed,  the  whole  force  would  have 
been  ours.  But  by  an  order  from  Major  Lally,  Lieutenant  Pratt 
was  taken  from  the  place  assigned  him  by  me,  and  in  consequence 
detained  until  a  greater  portion  of  the  column  had  passed ;  then, 
owing  to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  it  was  impossible  for  his  battery 
to  proceed  with  rapidity. 

"  The  cavalry  pursued  the  retreating  enemy  for  about  a  mile  and 
a  half,  skirmishing  with  them.  On  arriving  at  a  small  hill,  they 
made  a  stand  and  fought  severely  until  our  infantry  appeared,  when 
they  took  flight.  Our  artillery  fired  a  few  shots  as  soon  as  it  came 
up,  but  without  effect,  as  by  their  rapid  retreat  they  had  placed 
themselves  at  long  range.  The  dragoons  were  again  ordered  to 
follow  and  keep  them  engaged.  After  a  running  fight  of  about 
four  miles,  and  when  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Atlixco,  the  whole 
body  of  the  enemy  was  discovered  on  a  hill  side,  covered  with  chap- 
paral,  forming  hedges,  behind  which  they  had  posted  themselves. 
Our  cavalry  dashed  among  them,  cutting  them  down  in  great  num 
bers.  So  thick  was  the  chapparal  that  the  dragoons  were  ordered 
to  dismount  and  fight  them  on  foot.  A  most  bloody  conflict  ensued, 
fatal  to  the  enemy.  Our  infantry  for  the  last  six  miles  had  been 
straining  themselves  to  the  utmost  to  overtake  the  enemy,  pressing 
forward  most  arduously,  notwithstanding  the  forced  march  of  sixteen 
miles  since  eleven  o'clock.  Owing  to  the  nature  of  the  road,  al 
most  entirely  destroyed  by  gullies,  the  artillery  could  only  advance 
at  a  walk.  As  soon  as  the  infantry  again  appeared  in  sight,  the 
enemy  again  retreated.  So  worn  out  were  our  horses,  (the  sun 
having  been  broiling  hot  all  day,)  that  they  could  pursue  the  enemy 
no  further.  The  column  was  pressed  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible 
towards  the  town  ;  but  night  had  already  shut  in,  giving  us,  how 
ever,  the  advantage  of  a  fine  moonlight.  As  we  approached,  several 
shots  were  fired  at  us,  and,  deeming  it  unsafe  to  risk  a  street  fight 
in  an  unknown  town  at  night,  I  ordered  the  artillery  to  be  posted  on 
a  hill  near  to  the  town,  and  overlooking  it,  and  open  its  firo  Now 


LANE   AT   ATLIXCO.  135 

ensued  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sights  conceivable.  Every  gun 
was  served  with  the  utmost  rapidity ;  and  the  crash  of  the  walls  and 
the  roofs  of  the  houses,  when  struck  by  our  shot  and  shell,  was 
mingled  with  the  roar  of  our  artillery.  The  bright  light  of  the 
moon  enabled  us  to  direct  our  shots  to  the  most  thickly  populated 
parts  of  the  town. 

"After  firing  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and  the  firing  from  the 
town  having  ceased,  I  ordered  Major  Lally  and  Colonel  Brough  to 
advance  cautiously  with  their  commands  into  the  town.  On  enter 
ing  I  was  waited  upon  by  the  ayuntamiento,  desiring  that  their  town 
might  be  spared.  After  searching  the  next  morning  for  arms  and 
ammunition,  and  disposing  of  what  was  found,  I  commenced  my 
return. 

"  General  Rea  had  two  pieces  of  artillery  ;  but  as  soon  as  he  was 
aware  of  our  approach,  he  ordered  them  with  haste  to  Matamoras, 
a  small  town  eleven  leagues  beyond.  The  enemy  state  their  own 
loss  in  this  action  to  be  two  hundred  and  nineteen  killed  and  three 
hundred  wounded.  On  our  part,  we  had  one  man  killed  and  one 
wounded.  Scarcely  ever  has  a  more  rapid  forced  march  been  made 
than  this,  and  productive  of  better  results.  Atlixco  has  been  the 
head-quarters  of  guerillas  in  this  section  of  country,  and  of  late  the 
seat  of  government  of  this  state.  From  hence  all  expeditions  have 
been  fitted  out  against  our  troops.  So  much  terror  has  been  im 
pressed  upon  them,  at  thus  having  war  brought  to  their  own  homes, 
that  I  am  inclined  to  believe  they  will  give  us  no  more  trouble." 

The  capture  of  Atlixco  has  been  the  last  military  achievement  of 
General  Lane,  and  he  now  remains  with  the  army  awaiting  the 
course  of  events. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  CADWALADER. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  GEORGE  CADWALADER  is  a  grandson  of  the 
illustrious  John  Cadwalader,  of  revolutionary  memory,  and  has 
lately  proven  himself  worthy  of  his  name  and  family.  He  acted  a 
conspicuous  part  in  quelling  the  Philadelphia  riots  in  Kensington 
and  Southwark,  in  the  year  1844,  and  was  appointed  to  the  army 
in  Mexico,  March  3d,  1847. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  at  the  seat  of  war,  a  small  party  under 
Colonel  Mclntosh  was  attacked  by  a  considerable  Mexican  force, 
and  experienced  some  loss.  In  a  few  days  it  was  joined  by  Gene 
ral  Cadwalader  with  eight  hundred  men  and  two  howitzers,  and  the 
whole  command  advanced  toward  the  National  Bridge.  On  ap 
proaching  it,  the  general  occupied  some  neighbouring  heights,  from 
which  the  enemy  had  previously  fired  on  a  party  under  Captain 
Bainbridge.  Here  he  was  attacked  by  a  large  Mexican  force,  sta 
tioned  on  the  ridges  and  in  the  chapparal,  and  a  battle  ensued  which 
lasted  several  hours.  During  this  time  several  brilliant  charges 
were  made,  the  enemy  driven  from  their  positions,  and  the  bridge 
successfully  passed.  The  troops  were  then  attacked  by  guerilla 
bands  stationed  in  the  thickets  along  the  road,  and  fired  upon  during 
several  miles  of  their  march.  The  total  loss  of  the  Mexicans  in 
this  affair  was  nearly  one  hundred ;  General  Cadwalader's  about 
fifty,  of  whom  fifteen  were  killed. 

In  his  report  of  Contreros,  General  Smith  uses  the  following 
complimentary  language  of  General  Cadwalader,  who  contributed 
materially  to  the  fall  of  that  stronghold. 

"Brigadier-General  Cadwalader  [in  the  morning]  brought  his 
corps  up  from  his  intricate  bivouack  in  good  order,  formed  the  head 
of  his  column  to  support  Riley's,  and  led  it  forward  in  the  most 
(136) 


BRIGADIER. GENERAL  CADWALADER. 

Page  136. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL    CADWALADER.  137 

gallant  style  under  the  fire  directed  at  the  latter.  The  first  brigade 
was  conducted  by  Major  Dimick,  who  charged  in  line  with  it  on 
the  enemy's  left,  driving  before  him  the  force  formed  there  outside 
of  the  works,  and  putting  to  rout  a  far  superior  force,  displaying 
the  skill  of  the  commander  as  well  as  the  bravery  of  the  soldier. 
But  the  opportunity  afforded  by  his  position  to  Colonel  Riley  was 
seized  by  that  gallant  veteran  with  all  the  skill  and  energy  for  which 
he  is  distinguished.  The  charge  of  his  noble  brigade  down  the 
slope,  in  full  view  of  friend  and  foe,  unchecked  even  for  a  moment, 
until  he  had  planted  all  his  colours  upon  their  farthest  works,  was 
a  spectacle  that  animated  the  army  to  the  boldest  deeds." 

During  the  assault,  General  Cadwalader  was  stationed  in  rear  of 
the  fort,  to  watch  the  movements  of  Santa  Anna's  cavalry ;  and  in 
the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  subsequent  to  the  victory,  he  exhibited  in 
defatigable  courage  and  perseverance.  His  operations  during  the 
remainder  of  the  day  are  included  with  those  of  the  generals  already 
noticed. 

The  following  spirited  account  of  Cadwalader's  participation  in 
the  storming  of  Molino  del  Rey,  is  from  the  pen  of  one  in  his  divi 
sion  : — 

"General  Worth's  division  was  charged  with  this  duty,  as  it  was 
not  supposed  that  there  would  be  any  thing  of  a  fight,  and  it  would 
not  require  more  than  that  division  to  take  the  mill.  However, 
General  Cadwalader's  brigade,  of  the  third  division,  was  brought 
into  the  field  as  a  supporting  column,  though  it  was  not  expected 
that  it  would  be  necessary  to  bring  it  into  the  fight.  Accordingly, 
the  troops  marched  from  Tacubaya,  about  three  o'clock  A.  M.,  on 
the  8th  of  September,  and  daylight  saw  them  drawn  up  in  position 
m  front  of  what  was  afterwards  ascertained  to  be  an  extensive  forti 
fication,  or  rather  a  series  of  fortifications,  defended  by  ten  thousand 
of  the  picked  troops  of  Mexico,  with  several  pieces  of  artillery. 

"  General  Worth's  division,  numbering  some  sixteen  or  eighteen 
hundred  men,  was  drawn  up  in  a  line,  about  a  cannon's  shot  distance 
from  the  fortfiication ;  and  General  Cadwalader's  brigade  was  in  lirie 
some  distance  in  Worth's  rear.  The  action  commenced  just  as  day 
began  to  dawn,  by  a  few  shots  from  Captain  Drum's  battery,  occu 
pying  a  position  on  the  right  of  Worth's  division.  This  did  not 
continue  long ;  for  soon  the  spectator  could  observe  a  movement  on 
the  part  of  our  troops,  and  directly  an  enthusiastic  shout  arose  from, 
13* 


138  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   CADWALADER. 

Worth's  ranks,  and  they  rushed  on  to  the  charge.  But  now  the 
Mexicans  opened  their  batteries  on  our  devoted  troops,  and  ten  thou 
sand  muskets  rang  their  crashing  accompaniment.  Our  men  went 
down  by  hundreds,  and  the  plain  was  strewed  with  their  dead  and 
mangled  bodies.  For  a  short  time  nothing  could  be  heard  but  an 
incessant  roar  of  artillery  and  small  arms ;  and  when  the  smoke 
arose  from  the  scene,  the  intensely  excited  spectator  might  have  seen 
our  troops  giving  way  before  the  dreadful  fire  of  the  enemy.  It  was 
an  awful  moment,  and  calculated  to  send  a  thrill  of  horror  through 
an  American  heart.  The  gallant  division  of  General  Worth  was 
forced  to  give  way.  Could  any  troops  stand  such  a  fire  ?  The  4th, 
6th,  and  8th  infantry,  were  compelled  to  retire  before  those  murder 
ous  batteries. 

"  General  Cadwalader,  seeing  the  situation  of  affairs,  moved  his 
brigade  forward,  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  The  voltiguers, 
the  advance  regiment,  was  sent  off  to  the  left,  to  protect  Duncan's 
light  battery,  which  was  playing  on  the  mill,  and  to  keep  in  check 
a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  who  then  occupied  a  hill  near  the  scene 
of  action.  The  duty  was  performed,  and  the  enemy  driven  back 
several  times.  The  llth  regiment  was  ordered  to  charge  the  bat 
tery,  and  the  14th,  the  remaining  regiment  of  the  brigade,  was  held 
in  reserve.  The  llth  had  to  charge  over  the  same  ground  where 
fell  so  many  of  our  gallant  troops,  and  every  one  looked  for  its  an 
nihilation.  Their  gallant  leader,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Graham,  sat  on 
his  horse  in  the  coolest  manner,  and  gave  his  commands  as  collect 
edly  as  when  on  a  parade.  They  advance  steadily ;  but  now  the 
enemy  is  vomiting  his  grape  and  canister  upon  them,  and  they  leave 
a  train  of  dead  and  dying.  Do  they  falter  ?  No— their  gallant  com 
mander  is  waving  his  sword,  and  they  are  now  rushing  forward  in 
full  run.  On,  on  they  go !  But,  see  —  do  they  halt  ?  They  do, 
but  it  is  for  a  moment.  Do  you  hear  that  shout  ?  Comes  it  from 
the  Mexican  ranks  ?  No — no  ;  that  is  a  true  Pennsylvania  shout, 
and  tells  of  danger  defied,  and  glory  to  be  won.  There  they  go, 
onward,  right  up  to  the  enemy's  guns.  Huzza  for  the  Old  Key 
stone  !  The  Mexicans  are  giving  way  before  our  gallant  little  band, 
who  are  now  dealing  vengeance  and  death  on  the  murderers  of  their 
slaughtered  countrymen.  Lieutenant  Tippin  is  the  first  to  spring 
into  the  fort ;  he  mounts  one  of  the  guns,  and  waves  his  sword  for 
his  men  to  come  on.  But  just  then,  an  unexpected  and  tejjible  fire 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL   CADWALADER.  139 

salutes  him  from  the  top  of  the  building,  and  he  is  compelled  to  re 
tire,  being  grazed  by  several  balls.  And  see — the  enemy  are  rally 
ing  again,  and  returning  to  the  attack.  Their  success  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  action  has  given  them  courage.  Will  the  llth, 
that  gallant  band,  be  crushed  now  ?  No !  They  remain  firm  and 
determined.  Lieutenant  Johnson  has  just  fallen,  mortally  wounded ; 
he  expires  while  cheering  his  men  on  to  victory.  Captains  Irvin 
and  Guthrie  are  badly  wounded,  and  yet  they  are  both  on  the  field, 
animating  their  respective  commands,  and  leading  them  on  to  the 
attack." 

General  Cadwalader  entered  the  capital  with  his  gallant  associates 
in  arms,  and  is  now  with -General  Scott  at  the  National  Palace. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  PIERCE. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  FRANKLIN  PIERCE  was  appointed  to  the  army 
March  3d,  1847.  He  reached  the  gulf  coast  soon  after  the  capture 
of  Vera  Cruz.  His  operations  from  that  time  until  the  conclusion 
of  General  Scott's  armistice  with  Santa  Anna,  are  thus  detailed  by 
himself  in  a  letter  to  a  friend.  The  letter,  not  being  intended  for 
publication,  contains  more  personal  history  than  it  otherwise  would. 

"  Since  I  left  Vera  Cruz,  to  this  hour,  I  have  had  no  means  of 
communicating  with  the  states.  Although  but  a  few  months  in  the 
service,  I  know  what  is  fatigue,  anxiety,  and  exposure.  Contrary 
to  my  expectations,  and  contrary  to  my  orders  from  the  department 
at  Washington,  I  was  compelled,  for  the  want  of  the  requisite  pro 
visions  for  transportation,  to  remain  for  more  than  three  weeks  at 
Vera  Cruz,  and  more  than  four  in  Terra  Caliente,  (the  vomito  re 
gion,  as  it  is  called.)  I  left  the  dreaded  city  on  the  10th  of  July, 
with  two  thousand  five  hundred  men  of  all  arms,  and  a  train  of  wa 
gons,  which,  when  closed  up,  extended  more  than  two  miles.  On 
the  6th  of  August  I  reached  Puebla,  without  the  loss  of  a  single 
wagon,  with  my  command  in  fine  condition.  My  command  was 
attacked  six  times  on  the  march,  but  the  enemy's  force  in  each  in 
stance  was  easily  dispersed,  with  trifling  loss  on  our  side.  The 
National  Bridge  afforded  the  enemy  great  natural  advantages,  to 
which  they  had  added  breastworks  on  a  high  bluff  which  command 
ed  the  bridge  perfectly.  Across  the  main  bridge  they  had  also  thrown 
a  barricade.  I  soon  discovered  that  there  was  no  way  in  which  his 
position  could  be  turned,  and  that  my  artillery  was  ineffective  from 
the  most  commanding  point  where  it  could  be  placed.  I  determined, 
of  course,  to  cross  under  the  plunging  fire  of  the  enemy's  escopetas. 
My  order  to  advance  was  admirably  executed.  At  the  moment 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Bonham's  battalion  rushed  forward  with  a  shout, 

(140) 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL   PIERCE.  141 

the  enemy  poured  down  a  heavy  fire,  by  which  several  of  my  men 
were  severely  wounded.  Colonel  Bonham's  horse  was  shot  near 
me,  and  a  ball  passed  through  the  rim  of  my  hat,  in  very  disagree 
able  proximity  to  my  face.  Our  men  leaped  the  barricade,  followed 
by  Captain  Duperu's  company  of  cavalry,  and  in  less  than  ten  mi 
nutes  the  enemy  were  in  flight  in  every  direction,  and  the  American 
flag  waved  upon  the  high  bluff  which  they  had  occupied.  The 
Mexican  force,  as  they  said  afterwards,  consisted  of  five  hundred 
men.  Had  they  possessed  courage  and  skill  in  the  use  of  arms,  our 
loss  must  have  been  very  great.  You  can  hardly  conceive  the 
strength  of  the  natural  defences  of  the  road  over  which  we  passed. 
Rumours  came  to  me  almost  every  night  that  we  would  be  attacked 
by  large  forces  the  next  day,  but  they  made  nowhere  any  thing  like 
a  brave  and  stern  resistance. 

"  The  official  reports  of  the  great  battle  of  Mexico  will  probably 
reach  you  as  soon  as  this  letter,  and  I  shall  therefore  not  attempt  to 
give  the  minute  details.  It  was  fierce  and  bloody  beyond  any  thing 
that  has  occurred  in  this  war.  The  battle  differed  in  many  respects 
from  that  at  Buena  Vista.  There  General  Taylor  received  the 
enemy  in  a  strong  position  selected  by  himself.  Our  force  on  the 
20th  consisted  of  less  than  nine  thousand  men  ;  the  Mexican  force, 
within  supporting  distance  and  engaged,  undoubtedly  exceeded 
thirty  thousand.  We  attacked  him  in  position,  upon  ground  of  his 
own  selection,  admirably  fortified.  You  will  distinguish,  so  far  as 
numbers  are  concerned,  between  the  battle  of  the  morning  and  that 
of  the  afternoon,  although  spoken  of  in  the  official  reports  as  one 
engagement,  under  the  designation  of  '  the  battle  of  Mexico.'  We 
took,  during  the  day,  thirty-five  pieces  of  artillery,  an  immense 
quantity  of  ammunition,  eight  hundred  mules  and  horses,  and  more 
than  two  thousand  prisoners,  among  them  eight  generals  and  any 
number  of  colonels. 

"  The  Mexican  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  must  have  been  im 
mense.  Our  troops  buried  five  hundred  Mexicans  upon  the  field 
of  battle,  commenced  in  the  morning  at  Contreros,  and  the  loss  in 
the  afternoon  was  much  greater.  Our  loss  has  been  heavy.  With 
this  small  army  we  could  not  afford  to  purchase  many  such  victories 
at  such  a  price ;  one  of  the  regiments  of  my  brigade  (the  13th)  lost 
in  killed  and  wounded  one-third  of  its  entire  force.  In  killed  and 
wounded  we  number  not  less  than  one  thousand,  and  among  them 


142  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   PIERCE. 

I  lament  to  say  an  unusual  proportion  of  valuable  officers.     The 
New  England  regiment  suffered  severely,  and  behaved  throughout 
in  the  most  gallant  manner.    My  horse,  at  full  speed  on  the  evening 
of  the  19th,  when  leading  my  brigade  through  a  perfect  shower  of 
round  shot  and  shells,  fell  under  me  upon  a  ledge  of  rocks,  by  which 
I  sustained  a  severe  injury  by  the  shock  and  bruises,  but  especially 
by  a  severe  sprain  in  my  left  knee,  which  came  under  him.     At 
first  I  was  not  conscious  of  any  serious  injury,  but  soon  became  ex 
ceedingly  faint,  when  Dr.  Ritchie,  surgeon  of  the  12th,  (a  portion 
of  my  command,)  who  was  following  the  advancing  columns  closely, 
overtook  me,  and  administered  to  me  as  well  as  he  could  under  the 
circumstances.     In  a  few  moments  I  was  able  to  walk  with  diffi 
culty,  and  pressed  forward  to  Captain  McGruder's  battery,  where  I 
found  the  horse  of  poor  gallant  Lieutenant  Johnson,  who  had  just 
received  a  mortal  wound,  of  which  he  died  that  evening.     I  was 
permitted  to  take  him,  (my  own  having  been  totally  disabled,)  was 
helped  into  the  saddle,  and  continued  in  it  until  eleven  o'clock  that 
night.     It  was  exceedingly  dark,  the  rain  poured  in  torrents,  and, 
being  separated  from  my  servants  and  baggage,  I  was  without  tent 
or  covering ;  add  to  this  that,  during  the  afternoon  of  the  19th,  we 
had  gained  no  advantages  over  the  enemy,  who  remained  firmly 
entrenched  with  seven  thousand  men  opposed  to  about  four  thou 
sand  on  our  side,  without  the  possibility  of  bringing  our  artillery  to 
bear,  and  you  will  readily  conceive  that  our  situation  was  not  the 
most  agreeable.     The  morning  of  the  20th  was,  however,  as  bril 
liant  as  the  night  of  the  19th  was  dark  and  gloomy.     Soon  after 
daylight  the  enemy's  works  were  carried  with  the  bayonet,  and  of 
their  seven  thousand  men,  regular  troops,  under  the  command  of 
General  Valencia,  probably  four  thousand  cannot  be  found  to-day. 
As  we  passed  this  field  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives,  the  scene  was 
awful ;  the  road  and  adjacent  fields  everywhere  strewed  with  man 
gled  bodies  of  the  dead  and  dying.    We  continued  the  pursuit  until 
one  o'clock,  when  our  front  came  up  with  the  enemy's  strong  works 
at  Churubusco  and  San  Antonio,  where  the  great  conflict  of  the 
afternoon   commenced.     At  San  Angel,  dispositions  having  been 
made  to  attack  in  reverse  the  enemy's  works  on  the  San  Augustin 
road,  General  Scott  ordered  me  to  march  my  brigade,  in  concert 
with  that  of  the  intrepid  General  Shields,  across  the  open  country 
between  Santa  Catarina  and  the  above-named  road,  in  order  to  cut 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL    PIERCE.  143 

off  the  enemy's  retreat.  We  gained  the  position  sought,  and, 
although  the  enemy's  line  was  perfectly  formed,  and  extended  as 
far  as  the  eye  could  reach  in  either  direction,  they  were  attacked 
vigorously  and  successfully.  Arriving  at  a  ditch  which  it  was  im 
possible  for  my  horse  to  leap,  I  dismounted  and  hurried  forward, 
without  thinking  of  my  injury,  at  the  head  of  my  brigade,  for  two 
or  three  hundred  yards,  when,  turning  suddenly  upon  my  knee,  the 
cartilage  of  which  had  been  seriously  injured,  I  fainted  and  fell 
upon  the  bank,  in  the  direct  range  and  within  perfect  reach  of  the 
enemy's  fire.  That  I  escaped  seems  to  me  now  providential. 
The  rout  and  overthrow, of  the  whole  Mexican  force  soon  became 
complete,  and  we  could  easily  have  taken  the  city ;  but  General 
Scott  was  met  with  a  proposition  for  an  armistice,  (after  demanding 
the  surrender  of  the  city,)  with  a  view  to  open  negotiations  for 
peace. 

"In  my  judgment,  the  army,  full  of  ardour  and  confidence,  was 
humanely  and  wisely  restrained.  Major-General  Gluitman,  General 
Persifor  F.  Smith,  and  myself,  were  appointed  commissioners  to 
meet  the  Mexican  commissioners  to  settle  the  terms  of  the  armistice. 
I  had  not  taken  off  my  spurs  or  slept  an  hour  for  two  nights  in  con 
sequence  of  my  engagements  and  the  pain  of  my  knee.  I  obeyed 
the  summons,  was  helped  into  my  saddle,  and  rode  two  and  a  half 
miles  to  Tacubaya,  where  the  commission  assembled  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Mclntosh,  the  British  consul-general.  Our  conference  com 
menced  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  four  o'clock  the  next  morning 
the  articles  were  signed. 

"  That  I  was  thoroughly  exhausted  you  will  readily  imagine.  I 
slept  an  hour  or  two  that  morning  at  General  Worth's  quarters,  and 
my  sprained  knee,  which  was  by  far  my  most  serious  injury,  has 
been  daily  improving,  and  to-day  I  ride  without  much  inconveni 
ence.  I  have  lost  several  dear  friends,  although  our  acquaintance 
had  been  of  short  duration.  I  visited  the  hospital  yesterday,  and 
saw  officers  and  men  with  shots  in  all  parts  of  their  persons.  Al 
though  all  who  were  not  really  dying  seemed  cheerful,  and  many 
who  had  lost  limbs  in  high  spirits,  still  I  sickened  at  the  sight.  My 
general  health  has  been  good.  I  have  been  either  in  my  saddle  or 
on  my  feet  every  rod  since  1  left  Vera  Cruz,  which  can  be  said  by 
few  officers  in  my  command ;  for  almost  all  were  obliged,  at  some 


144  BRIGADIER-GENERAL    PIERCE. 

point  of  the  march,  in  consequence  of  the  change  of  climate,  water, 
exposure,  &c.,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  ambulance.  Colonel 
Watson,  with  his  marine  corps,  accompanied  me,  and  has  been  uni- 
'formly  well.  He  is  an  excellent  agreeable  gentleman  and  admira 
ble  officer,  and  I  regret  that,  having  been  left  with  General  Q,uit- 
man's  division  at  San  Augustin,  he  had  no  opportunity  to  participate 
in  the  battles  of  the  19th  and  20th." 

General  Pierce  was  prevented  by  his  wound  from  participating  in 
the  events  of  September,  and  he  is  still  an  invalid  at  the  Mexican 
capital. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  PATTERSON. 


Page  145. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  PATTERSON. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  ROBERT  PATTERSON  was  born  January  12th, 
1792,  near  Strabane,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland.  His  father,  one  of 
the  actors  in  the  rebellion  of  1798,  emigrated  to  this  country  on  the 
failure  of  that  ill-starred  enterprise,  and  settled  in  Delaware  county, 
Pennsylvania.  At  the  age  of  fourteen,  Robert  entered  the  counting- 
house  of  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  who  was  then  the  principal 
American  merchant  engaged  in  the  East  India  trade.  In  October, 
1811,  he  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Tennessee;  but  after 
the  declaration  of  war  with  Great  Britain,  he  returned  to  Pennsyl 
vania,  obtained  a  lieutenancy  in  the  army,  and  after  serving  for  a 
time  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier-General  Bloomfield,  was  commis 
sioned  captain  (April  19th,  1814)  in  the  32d  infantry.  When  his 
company  was  disbanded  in  consequence  of  the  termination  of  the 
war,  he  embarked  in  mercantile  pursuits,  devoting  his  leisure  hours 
to  the  study  of  tactics,  and  to  the  discipline  and  improvement  of  the 
volunteers  of  Philadelphia,  with  whom  he  retained  his  connection 
till  after  his  appointment  as  major-general  in  the  United  States'  army, 
July  7th,  1846. 

The  command  of  the  troops  called  out  to  repress  the  disturbances 
at  Harrisburg  in  the  winter  of  1838-9,  devolved  on  him  as  senior 
major-general ;  he  was  again  employed  to  quell  the  riots  in  Phila 
delphia. 

During  the  action  at  Madeline  river,  General  Patterson  brought 
up  a  reinforcement  of  Tennessee  volunteers,  but  declined  super 
seding  Colonel  Harney,  preferring  to  fight  under  that  gallant  officer, 
rather  than  by  assuming  the  command  to  deprive  him  of  the  credit 
of  one  of  the  most  brilliant  affairs  of  the  war.  Posting  his  Tennes- 
13  (145) 


146  MAJOR-GENERAL   PATTERSON. 

seeans,  he  ordered  them  to  lie  down,  as  they  were  then  exposed  to 
a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy  without  the  opportunity  of  returning 
it  effectively.  The  order  was  obeyed  very  reluctantly,  and  some  of 
the  men,  thinking  that  the  prudence  which  protected  them  should 
be  extended  to  himself,  called  out: — "Lie  down  yourself,  general, 
or  they  will  knock  you  over  presently."  "  No,"  said  he,  "  my  duty 
calls  me  where  I  am,  and  yours  is  to  remain  where  you  are,  until 
required  to  expose  yourself.  The  President  can  make  generals, 
but  he  cannot  make  soldiers." 

General  Scott,  in  his  general  orders  subsequent  to  the  battle  of 
Sierra  Gordo,  says : — 

"  Major-General  Patterson,  rendered  for  the  moment  supernume 
rary,  with  this  army,  will  accompany  the  returning  volunteers  of  his 
late  gallant  division,  and  render  them  such  assistance  on  the  way 
as  he  well  knows  how  to  give.  *  *  *  *  This  distinguished 
general  officer  will  please  accept  the  thanks  of  the  general-in-chief, 
for  the  gallant,  able,  and  efficient  support  uniformly  received  from 
the  second  in  rank  in  this  army." 

Speaking  of  this  order,  a  correspondent  says : — 

"  He  leaves  us  with  the  regrets  of  all.  We  saw  him  at  Vera 
Cruz,  and  witnessed,  during  the  whole  of  that  harassing  siege  and 
severe  cannorjade,  his  thorough  devotion  to  his  duties.  He  was  so 
lame  as  to  be  compelled  to  wear  crutches,  and  could  not  get  up 
the  hills  into  our  positions  without  aid.  I  have  seen  him  in  ex 
posed  positions  again  and  again,  leaning  on  his  crutches,  and  ex 
amining  the  enemy's  movements,  when  the  shells  and  round  shot 
were  flying  around  him  and  passing  over  him  in  every  direction. 
At  Sierra  Gordo,  when  so  ill  that  it  was  almost  madness  to  think  of 
leaving  his  bed,  he  astonished  his  command  by  riding  in  among 
them  immediately  previous  to  the  attack,  and  was  received  by  a 
simultaneous  shout,  from  three  or  four  thousand  voices,  which  must 
have  made  the  enemy  shake.  At  that  time  he  was  so  weak  that 
he  could  scarcely  manage  the  animal  he  rode." 

General  Patterson  was  second  in  command  on  the  Rio  Grande, 
immediately  after  the  capture  of  Matamoras,  and  was  entrusted  with 
the  control  of  all  the  forces  on  the  river  during  General  Taylor's 
march  toward  Monterey.  He  assisted  at  Vera  Cruz,  but  was  pre 
vented  from  taking  an  active  part  at  Sierra  Gordo,  in  consequence 
of  severe  sickness.  During  Scott's  march  to  the  capital,  he  has 


MAJOR-GENERAL   PATTERSON.  147 

been  stationed  at  Vera  Cruz,  to  keep  in  check  the  numerous  guer 
illa  parties  of  that  region.  In  connection  with  his  services  in  this 
respect  a  correspondent  writes : — 

"  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  Father  Ahrouta  (or  Jarauta), 
who  commands  a  guerilla  party,  and  has  become  notorious  by  his 
misdeeds  on  the  road  from  Jalapa  to  Vera  Cruz,  sent  in  a  flag  of 
truce  by  two  of  his  officers,  proposing  to  surrender  as  a  prisoner  of 
war  or  join  the  American  army,  if  General  Patterson  would  guaranty 
the  safety  of  himself  and  followers,  and  their  property.  To  this 
General  Patterson  replied  that  he  wanted  to  have  no  intercourse 
with  the  guerilla  priest,  but  would  advise  him  to  return  to  his 
prayers,  and  send  his  band  back  to  their  honest  employments,  if 
they  had  any,  as  no  one  would  molest  them  then,  while,  if  they 
continued  to  infest  the  road,  and  he  should  catch  any  of  them,  he 
would  certainly  hang  them. 

"The  name  of  Pennsylvania  operated  on  the  general  here  like  a 
charm,  and  in  a  manner  quite  gratifying  to  us.  Among  the  first 
of  his  acts  on  arriving  at  the  bridge,  where  the  13th  regiment  and 
the  Baltimore  artillery  battalion  were  stationed,  was  to  inquire  what 
amount  of  provision  the  garrison  had  on  hand.  He  was  informed, 
among  other  things,  that  Captain  Diller  had  drawn  twenty-five  hun 
dred  rations  for  Colonel  Wynkoop's  regiment.  *  What  is  that 
for  T  said  the  general,  sternly  —  *  send  him  to  me.'  Captain  Dil 
ler  in  a  few  minutes  was  before  the  general,  who  asked  him  why 
he  had  drawn  for  so  many  rations.  The  latter  replied,  that  he  had 
brought  but  five  days'  rations  with  him,  as  he  expected  to  meet 
General  Patterson's  train  and  obtain  more.  '  It  cannot  be  done, 
sir,'  said  General  Patterson,  « you  must  return  them.'  *  But,  gene 
ral,'  said  Captain  Diller,  *  they  are  in  the  wagons,  and  I  have  given 
my  receipt  for  them.'  « I  can't  help  that,'  was  the  stern  reply, « you 
ought  to  have  brought  more  with  you.'  '  But,  general,'  again  said 
Captain  Diller,  imploringly, 4  remember  the  Pennsylvania  boys  have 
seen  hard  service  and  fought  nobly,  it  will  not  do  to  let  them  starve.' 
*  Ah,  yes,'  rejoined  the  general,  while  his  face  relaxed  into  a  bene 
volent  smile,  and  his  eye  sparkled  with  proud  recollections,  'they 
were  with  me  at  Vera  Cruz  and  Sierra  Gordo  —  say  no  more,  but 
keep  the  rations  and  start  back  to  the  Plan  with  them  the  first  thing 
in  the  morning — the  Pennsylvania  boys  shall  not  starve  !' 

"  On  his  arrival  the  next  day  at  the  Plan  del  Rio,  General  Patter- 


148  MAJOR-GENERAL   PATTERSON. 

son  was  received  by  the  regiment  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm,  and 
the  joy  of  the  men  at  seeing  him  seemed  to  know  no  bounds.  He 
was  much  gratified  by  this  demonstration,  and  appeared  as  happy 
to  see  us  as  if  we  had  each  and  all  been  of  his  own  family  and  blood. 
We  left  him  at  the  Plan  that  day  (the  5th),  and  started  for  this 
place,  where,  as  I  have  already  said,  we  arrived  yesterday,  the  6th. 
He  reached  here  this  afternoon,  but  the  rear-guard  of  his  immense 
train  will  not  be  in  until  long  after  midnight."* 

*  General  Patterson's  command  on  the  Rio  Grande  amounted  to  nearly 
eleven  thousand  men,  many  of  whom  having  been  but  recently  mustered 
into  service,  were  destitute  both  of  discipline  and  subordination.  To  this 
difficulty  was  added  the  great  number  of  sick,  occasioned  by  the  unhealthi- 
ness  of  the  climate,  and  the  troops'  own  carelessness.  By  judicious  man 
agement,  and  an  occasional  resort  to  energetic  measures,  the  general  suc 
ceeded  in  rendering  his  command  fit  for  active  service. 

In  December,  1846,  orders  were  issued  to  the  army  to  prepare  for  a  de 
scent  upon  Tampico.  One  part  of  General  Patterson's  force  was  sent  to 
General  Taylor,  another  down  the  Rio  Grande,  and  the  remainder  under 
his  own  direction,  crossed  the  country  from  Matamoras,  by  way  of  Victoria, 
a  distance  of  about  two  hundred  miles.  Notwithstanding  many  obstacles 
to  this  march,  the  head  of  the  column  entered  Victoria  simultaneously 
with  that  of  General  Taylor  from  Monterey.  From  this  place  General 
Patterson  was  ordered  to  Tampico,  where  he  met  General  Scott,  and  pro 
ceeded  with  him  to  Vera  Cruz. 

'  In  October,  1847,  the  general  commenced  his  march  for  the  capital  of 
Mexico,  where  he  arrived  about  the  latter  end  of  November. 


COLONEL  HARNEY. 


FOR  intrepidity,  perseverance,  and  impetuosity  in  battle,  no  man 
in  the  American  army  is  superior  to  Colonel  Harney.  His  dragoon- 
fight  at  Vera  Cruz,  his  charge  at  Sierra  Gordo,  and  his  recent  heroic 
actions  before  the  capital,  have  rarely  been  surpassed,  and  have 
won  for  him  a  reputation  as  brilliant  as  it  is  just. 

The  colonel's  personal  appearance  is  thus  described  by  one  who 
visited  him  during  his  present  journey  through  the  United  States : 

"  Our  attention  was  next  arrested  by  seeing  a  man  of  towering 
height  and  gigantic  frame,  with  a  chest  like  that  of  Hercules  and 
an  eye  like  that  of  Mars.  He  was,  indeed,  to  use  the  language  of 
Hamlet,  made  *  to  threaten  and  command.'  With  a  smile  upon  his 
lips  and  a  sparkle  of  pleasure  in  his  light  blue  eyes,  he  stood  the 
« observed  of  all  observers.'  He  was  the  gallant  Colonel  Harney — 
one  of  the  most  accomplished  and  heroic  soldiers  in  the  army  —  to 
whom  has  been  so  generally  assigned  the  chief  glory  of  the  great 
victory  of  Sierra  Gordo." 

Colonel  William  S.  Harney  was  born  in  Louisiana,  and  received 
his  first  appointment  as  2d  lieutenant  1st  infantry  February  13th, 
1818.  He  was  brevetted  colonel  December  7th,  1840,  and  raised 
to  full  colonel  June  30th,  1846.  He  served  with  great  credit  in  the 
Seminole  wars,  and  when  the  present  war  with  Mexico  opened, 
joined  Wool's  Division  of  the  Centre,  and  was  included  among  the 
troops  despatched  for  the  Gulf  coast.  His  famous  dragoon-right, 
during  the  bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz,  is  thus  described  by  a  cor 
respondent  : 

"  Information  was  received  in  camp  this  morning  that  a  body  ot 
Mexicans  were  hanging  on  our  rear,  intending  to  force  the  lines  if 
possible,  and  make  their  way  into  the  city  with  a  number  of  cattle. 
13*  P  (149) 


150  COLONEL  HARNEY. 

Colonel  Harney,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  dragoons,  was  or 
dered  out  to  search  them,  and  report  his  observations.  He  dis 
covered  them,  about  two  thousand  in  number,  intrenched  at  a  bridge, 
and  supported  by  two  pieces  of  artillery,  three  miles  from  General 
Patterson's  head-quarters.  Colonel  Harney  started  on  his  return, 
intending  to  prepare  properly  and  attack  them  the  next  morning. 
But  the  gallant  old  soldier,  knowing  that  delays  are  dangerous, 
could  not  bear  the  idea  of  leaving  the  enemy  after  having  come  in 
sight  of  them,  without  having  a  brush.  Accordingly,  he  returned 
to  the  place,  took  a  position  where  he  could  watch  their  movements, 
and  keep  his  men  secure  from  the  enemy's  fire.  The  Mexicans 
commenced  firing  at  him,  and  threw  a  perfect  shower  of  balls  all 
around  him,  but  without  injury.  Colonel  Harney  then  despatched 
a  messenger  to  camp  for  a  small  reinforcement,  and  some  artillery  to 
break  the  breastworks.  He  was  reinforced  from  General  Patter 
son's  division,  by  Lieutenant  Judd,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery, 
about  sixty  dragoons,  dismounted,  and  six  companies  of  the  1st  and 
2d  Tennessee  volunteers,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Haskell, 
accompanied  by  General  Patterson  in  person,  although  he  did  not 
take  the  command  from  Colonel  Harney,  but  merely  participated 
as  any  other  individual  who  was  engaged. 

"  Colonel  Harney  then  formed  the  Tennesseeans  on  the  right,  his 
dragoons  on  the  left,  and  advanced  slowly,  to  draw  the  fire  of  the 
Mexicans,  until  Lieutenant  Judd  got  his  artillery  in  such  a  position 
as  he  desired.  The  movement  succeeded  admirably :  Lieutenant 
Judd  got  his  ground  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  Mexi 
cans,  and  commenced  firing  —  they  attempted  to  return  it,  but  as 
soon  as  a  slight  breach  was  made  in  the  parapet,  Colonel  Harney 
ordered  a  charge,  which  was  answered  by  a  yell  from  the  dragoons 
and  Tennesseeans.  Colonel  Haskell,  Captain  Cheatham,  and  Cap 
tain  Foster  were  the  first  men  to  leap  over  the  breastwork,  and,  as 
a  naval  officer  remarked,  who  witnessed  the  whole  affair,  the  balance 
went  over  so  much  '  like  a  thousand  of  brick,'  that  there  was  no 
telling  who  was  first  or  last.  As  might  have  been  expected,  the 
Mexicans  were  unable  to  stand  a  charge  from  *  the  boys  who  stood 
the  fire  of  the  Black  Fort  at  Monterey.'  A  few  of  the  incumbrances 
were  soon  thrown  out  of  the  way,  and  Colonel  Harney,  with  his 
dragoons,  leaped  the  breastwork  and  gave  chase. 

"  He  had  not  proceeded  more  than  a  mile  before  he  found  the 


COLONEL   HARNEY.  151 

enemy  farmed  in  line  to  receive  him.  He  immediately  deployed, 
and  from  the  head  of  the  line  ordered  a  charge.  When  he  ap 
proached  within  about  twenty  yards  of  the  enemy's  line,  they  gave 
him  a  fire  from  their  side-arms,  but  overshot.  Then  came  the  test 
of  strength  and  skill  —  the  dragoon,  with  sword  in  hand,  met  the 
confiding  lancer,  with  pointed  lance,  ready  to  receive  him.  The 
contest  was  but  for  a  short  time.  In  many  instances,  lances  were 
twisted  from  their  clenched  hold ;  the  Mexicans  were  unsaddled, 
and  driven  helter-skelter  in  every  direction,  and  pursued  by  the  dra 
goons  in  detachments. 

"  Colonel  Harney  and  several  of  his  officers  met  their  men  in 
single  combat,  but  none  of  them  received  any  injury  except  Lieu 
tenant  Neill,  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  who  was  wounded  severely 
in  two  places,  from  his  magnanimity  in  attempting  to  capture  a 
Mexican  instead  of  killing  him.  In  full  run  he  overtook  the  re 
treating  Mexican,  and  placing  his  sword  in  front  of  him,  commanded 
him  to  surrender ;  whereupon  the  Mexican  drove  his  lance  into  his 
magnanimous  adversary.  As  the  lieutenant  wheeled  his  horse  to 
despatch  him,  another  Mexican  charged  up  and  struck  him  with  a 
lance.  However,  severely  wounded  as  he  was,  in  two  places,  he 
conquered  one  of  his  foes,  and  a  corporal  came  up  in  time  to  *  settle 
accounts'  with  the  other. 

"The  Mexican  force  was  near  two  thousand;  Colonel  Harney 's 
about  five  hundred." 

In  the  march  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Sierra  Gordo,  Colonel  Harney 
performed  excellent  service  as  a  scout,  and  advance  guard  ;  and  his 
brilliant  storming  of  the  main  work  at  Sierra  Gordo  elicited  the 
warmest  commendation  from  the  commander-in-chief,  even  on  the 
battle-field.  The  annexed  description  of  this  affair  is  from  the  pen 
of  an  eye-witness :— - 

"The  storming  and  capture  of  the  strong  works  on  Sierra  Gordo, 
by  the  brigade  under  Colonel  Harney,  may  be  looked  upon  as  one 
of  the  most  brilliant  achievements  of  the  Mexican  war — the  fate  of 
the  battle  turned  upon  it,  and  here  the  enemy  had  placed  an  over 
whelming  force  of  his  best  troops.  The  hill  was  steep,  and  naturally 
difficult  of  ascent ;  but  independent  of  this,  the  ground  was  covered 
with  loose,  craggy  rocks,  an  undergrowth  of  tangled  chapparal,  be 
sides  many  small  trees,  the  tops  of  which  were  cut  off  some  four  or 
five  feet  from  the  ground,  and  turned  down  the  hill,  to  impede  the 


152  COLONEL   HARNEY. 

progress  of  the  stormers.  To  climb  the  height  at  all,  even  without 
arms  of  any  kind,  would  be  an  undertaking  that  few  would  care 
about  essaying ;  what  then  must  it  have  been  to  men  encumbered 
with  muskets  and  cartridge-boxes,  and  obliged  to  dispute  every  step 
of  the  precipitous  and  rugged  ascent  ?  Murderous  showers  of  grape 
and  canister  greeted  our  men  at  the  onset,  and  as  they  toiled  unfal 
tering  through  a  tempest  of  iron  hail,  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry 
opened  upon  them.  Not  a  man  quailed — with  loud  shouts  they  still 
pressed  upward  and  onward.  At  every  step  our  ranks  were  thinned ; 
but  forward  went  the  survivors.  When  within  good  musket  range, 
but  not  until  then,  was  the  fire  of  the  enemy  returned,  and  then 
commenced  the  dreadful  carnage  of  strife.  The  Mexicans  held  to 
their  guns  with  more  than  their  usual  bravery,  but  nothing  could 
resist  the  fierce  onset  of  the  stormers.  Over  the  breastworks,  with 
which  the  Mexicans  had  surrounded  the  crest  of  the  hill,  they 
charged,  and  shouting,  attacked  the  enemy  in  their  very  stronghold. 
The  latter  now  fled,  panic-stricken,  but  still  they  were  pursued  ;  and 
it  was  not  until  the  affrighted  fugitives  had  reached  a  point  without 
the  extreme  range  of  their  own  cannon,  which  had  been  turned 
upon  them  at  the  onset,  that  they  ceased  in  their  flight.  The  na 
tional  colours  of  our  country  now  supplanted  the  banner  of  the 
enemy ;  the  different  regimental  flags  were  also  planted  on  the  crest ; 
and  shouts  louder  than  ever  from  the  victors  rose  upon  the  air,  strik 
ing  terror  into  the  very  hearts  of  the  enemy  in  the  works  still  un- 
taken,  for  they  knew  that  their  strong  positions  had  been  turned,  and 
that  they  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  men  they  had  scoffed  at  in  the 
morning.  Never  was  victory  more  complete,  although  purchased 
with  the  blood  of  some  of  our  best  men.  Lieutenant  Ewell,  of  the 
rifles,  was  among  the  first  within  the  enemy's  breastworks,  and  it 
was  here  that  he  received  his  death  wound.  The  interior  of  the 
work  was  covered  with  the  dead  of  the  enemy,  among  them  General 
Vasquez,  Colonel  Palacio,  and  many  of  their  officers,  while  the 
hill-side  down  which  they  fled  was  strewn  as  well.  Near  two  hun 
dred  men  were  left  dead,  while  the  wounded  would  swell  the  number 
to  at  least  five  hundred — some  even  put  it  down  as  high  as  seven 
hundred." 

In  all  the  subsequent  operations  of  the  war  Colonel  Harney  has 
been  most  usefully  employed.  We  give  extracts  from  his  report 
of  his  duties  in  August  :— 

"  The  cavalry  force  being  necessarily  weakened  by  detachments 


COLONEL   HARNEY.  153 

to  the  different  divisions  of  the  army,  I  found  myself  on  the  morning 
of  the  I9th  instant  in  the  immediate  command  of  nine  companies 
only,  consisting  of  six  companies  of  the  2d  dragoons,  one  company 
of  mounted  riflemen,  and  two  companies  of  mounted  volunteers. 
With  this  force  I  was  ordered  by  the  general-in-chief  to  report  to 
Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  who  was  at  this  time  covering  Major- 
General  Pillow's  division  in  an  effort  to  make  a  road  through  the 
ridge  of  lava  which  forms  the  pass  of  San  Antonio.  Owing  to  the 
nature  of  the  ground  I  was  compelled  to  halt  within  range  of  the 
enemy's  shells,  and  to  remain  in  this  position  for  several  hours — an 
idle  spectator  of  the  action  which  ensued.  After  night  I  returned 
with  my  command  to  San  Augustin,  and  remained  there  until  the 
enemy's  position  at  Contreros  was  carried  on  the  morning  of  the 
20th. 

"  As  soon  as  the  road  was  ascertained  to  be  opened  and  practica 
ble  for  cavalry,  I  was  directed  by  the  general-in-chief  to  proceed 
with  two  squadrons  and  Captain  McKinstry's  company  of  volun 
teers  to  the  field  of  battle,  and  to  take  charge  of  the  prisoners  that 
had  been  captured.  While  in  the  execution  of  this  order,  I  received 
instructions  from  the  general-in-chief  to  leave  one  squadron  in  charge 
of  the  prisoners,  and  to  report  to  him  in  person  with  the  other  three 
companies.  Captain  Blake,  with  his  squadron,  was  directed  to  per 
form  this  duty;  while  Major  Sumner  and  myself,  with  Captain 
Ker's  squadron,  and  Captain  McKinstry's  company  of  volunteers, 
joined  the  commanding  general  near  the  field  of  Churubusco,  just 
after  the  engagement  at  that  place  had  commenced.  *  *  *  * 

"  The  three  troops  of  horse  brought  by  me  on  the  field,  being  or 
dered  away  in  different  directions,  Major  Sumner  and  myself  soon 
found  ourselves  without  commands.  I  then  employed  myself  with 
my  staff  in  rallying  fugitives  and  encouraging  our  troops  on  the  left 
of  the  main  road.  Major  Sumner,  towards  the  close  of  the  engage 
ment,  was  placed  by  the  general-in-chief  in  charge  of  the  last  reserve, 
consisting  of  the  rifle  regiment  and  one  company  of  horse,  and  or 
dered  to  support  the  left.  This  force  was  moving  rapidly  to  take  its 
position  in  line  of  battle,  when  the  enemy  broke  and  fled  to  the  city. 
At  this  moment,  perceiving  that  the  enemy  were  retreating  in  disor 
der  on  one  of  the  main  causeways  leading  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  I 
collected  all  the  cavalry  within  my  reach,  consisting  of  parts  of  Cap 
tain  Ker's  company  2d  dragoons,  Captain  Kearney's  company  1st 


154  COLONEL  HARNEY. 

dragoons,  and  Captains  McReynolds'  and  Duperu's  companies  of 
the  3d  dragoons,  and  pursued  them  vigorously  until  we  were  halted 
by  the  discharge  of  the  batteries  at  their  gate.  Many  of  the  enemy 
were  overtaken  in  the  pursuit,  and  cut  down  by  our  sabres.  I  can 
not  speak  in  terms  too  complimentary  of  the  manner  in  which  this 
charge  was  executed.  My  only  difficulty  was  in  restraining  the 
impetuosity  of  my  men  and  officers,  who  seemed  to  vie  with 
each  other  to  be  foremost  in  the  pursuit.  Captain  Kearney  gal 
lantly  led  his  squadron  into  the  very  entrenchments  of  the  enemy, 
and  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  an  arm  from  a  grape-shot  fired  from 
a  gun  at  one  of  the  main  gates  of  the  capital.  Captain  McReynolds 
and  Lieutenant  Graham  were  also  wounded,  and  Lieutenant  Ewell 
had  two  horses  shot  under  him.  *  *  *  * 

"  In  conclusion,  I  beg  leave  to  state  that  the  dragoons,  from  the 
commencement  of  .the  march  from  Puebla,  have  been  engaged  on 
the  most  active  and  laborious  service.  These  duties  have  been  the 
more  arduous  in  consequence  of  the  small  force  of  cavalry,  compared 
with  the  other  arms  of  service.  Small  parties  being  constantly  en 
gaged  in  reconnoitring  and  on  picket  guards,  the  utmost  vigilance 
and  precaution  have  been  required  to  prevent  surprise  and  disaster. 
The  gallant  Captain  Thornton,  while  reconnoitring  the  enemy  near 
San  Antonio  on  the  18th  instant,  was  shot  through  the  body  by  a 
cannon  shot,  and  instantly  killed.  His  death  is  much  to  be  regretted. 
On  the  20th,  although  I  had  but  four  companies  of  my  brigade  with 
me  on  the  field,  the  remainder  were  actively  employed  in  the  per 
formance  of  important  and  indispensable  duties.  Captain  Hardee, 
while  watching  the  enemy  with  his  company  near  San  Augustin, 
was  attacked  by  a  band  of  guerillas  ;  but  the  enemy  was  promptly 
and  handsomely  repulsed,  and  a  number  of  their  horses,  with  arms 
and  accoutrements,  captured." 

After  the  capture  of  the  Mexican  capital,  Colonel  Harney  return 
ed  to  the  United  States,  where  he  still  remains  [January,  1848.] 


COLONEL  CHILDS. 


Page  lf>5. 


COLONEL  CHILDS 


COLONEL  THOMAS  CHILDS  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  He  en 
tered  the  army  as  3d  lieutenant,  March  llth,  1814;  was  brevetted 
colonel,  May  9th,  1846 ;  raised  to  the  full  rank  of  major,  February 
16th,  1847;  and  soon  after  raised  to  his  present  rank.  He  greatly 
distinguished  himself  at  Palo  Alto,  and  on  the  following  day  ;  and 
at  Monterey  he  led  one  of  the  storming  parties  in  General  Worth's 
division.  The  general  mentions  him  in  his  official  report  with  high 
approbation  ;  and  he  was  at  the  same  time  recommended  by  General 
Taylor  to  the  favourable  consideration  of  the  department.  He  fought 
side  by  side  at  Sierra  Gordo  with  the  intrepid  Harney,  and  like  him 
received  the  highest  commendations  of  the  commander-in-chief. 
After  the  capture  of  Jalapa,  he  was  appointed  military  commander 
of  that  place ;  and,  in  about  a  month  after,  military  governor  of 
Puebla.  During  the  absence  of  the  main  army  from  that  place,  lie 
was  attacked,  [September  13th,  1847,]  by  a  large  Mexican  force, 
and  a  siege  commenced,  which  lasted  nearly  a  month,  conducted 
part  of  the  time  by  Santa  Anna  himself.  The  colonel  gives  a  mi 
nute  account  of  these  transactions  in  his  official  report,  [dated  Octo 
ber  13th,]  portions  of  which  are  subjoined : — 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that,  after  twenty-eight  days  close 
investment,  the  enemy  yesterday  [October  12th]  raised  the  siege 
and  left  for  Atlixco. 

"  I  will  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  to  submit  to  the  general- 
in-chief  a  brief  account  of  the  operations  of  the  troops  at  this  point, 
from  the  period  of  my  assuming  command  to  the  termination  of  the 
siege  and  the  arrival  of  Brigadier-General  Lane  with  reinforce 
ments. 

"  On  entering  upon  my  duties  as  civil  and  military  governor  I  found 
myself  in  command  of  Captain  Ford's  company  of  cavalry,  forty- 

(155) 


156  COLONEL   CHILDS. 

six  strong ;  Captains  Kendrick's  and  Miller's  companies  of  artillery, 
numbering  one  hundred ;  together  with  six  companies  of  the  1st 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Black 
— his  total  effective  strength  being  two  hundred  and  forty-seven — 
and  hospitals  filled  with  one  thousand  eight  hundred  sick. 

"  With  this  command,  San  Jose,  the  grand  depot  in  this  city, 
Loreto,  and  Guadalupe  were  to  be  garrisoned,  and  held  against  the 
combined  efforts  of  the  military  and  populace. 

"  The  isolated  position  selected  for  the  hospitals  compelled  me  to 
remove  them  within  the  protection  of  San  Jose  on  the  first  demon 
stration  of  hostility.  This  was  not  long  in  exhibiting  itself,  when  I 
put  myself,  with  such  means  as  I  had  at  my  disposal,  in  the  best 
possible  state  for  defence,  confining  my  efforts  to  the  square  imme 
diately  around  San  Jose ;  and  from  these  points  the  enemy,  during 
the  entire  siege,  were  not  able  to  force  in  (but  for  a  single  moment) 
a  sentinel. 

"  No  open  acts  of  hostility,  other  than  the  murdering  of  straggling 
soldiers,  occurred  until  the  night  of  the  13th  of  September,  when  a 
fire  was  opened  from  some  of  the  streets.  On  the  night  of  the  14th 
it  recommenced,  and  from  every  street,  with  a  violence  that  knew 
of  no  cessation,  for  twenty-eight  days  and  nights. 

"The  enemy,  with  their  numerous  cavalry,  succeeded  in  cutting 
off  at  once  every  kind  of  supply,  and  vainly  attempted  to  change 
the  current  of  the  stream  of  water,  that  we  might  become  a  more 
easy  prey.  The  night,  however,  before  the  cattle  and  sheep  disap 
peared  from  this  vicinity,  two  well-directed  parties  obtained  thirty 
of  the  former  and  four  hundred  of  the  latter. 

"  The  various  points  to  be  defended  for  the  preservation  of  San 
Jose,  on  which  the  safety  of  the  other  posts  depended,  demanded 
the  untiring  vigilance  of  every  officer  and  man. 

"  The  enemy  augmented  in  numbers  daily,  and  daily  the  firing 
was  increased  ;  and  finally,  on  the  22d  of  September,  General  Santa 
Anna  arrived  with  large  reinforcements  from  Mexico,  much  to  the 
delight  of  the  besiegers,  on  which  occasion  a  general  ringing  of 
bells  took  place,  and  was  only  stopped,  as  it  had  been  several  times 
before,  by  a  discharge  of  shells  and  round-shot  from  Loreto  into  the 
heart  of  the  city. 

"  On  the  25th  of  September,  General  Santa  Anna  demanded  my 
surrender. 


COLONEL    CHILDS.  157 

"  So  soon  as  I  had  despatched  my  answer,  I  supposed  not  a  mo 
ment  would  be  lost  by  the  general,  who  was  to  attack  me  at  all 
points  with  his  eight  thousand  troops.  I  rode  to  the  different  posts, 
and  announced  to  the  troops  the  demand,  the  force  with  which  it 
was  backed,  and  my  reply.  Their  response  convinced  me  that  all 
was  safe ;  that  a  hard  and  bloody  battle  must  be  fought  ere  the  great 
captain  of  Mexico  could  overcome  my  little  band. 

"  The  point  of  attack  was  San  Jose,  commanded  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Black,  with  Captain  Ford's  company  of  cavalry,  Cap 
tain  Miller's  company  of  4th  artillery,  and  four  companies  of  his 
own  regiment,  and  one  hospital,  the  guard  of  which  was  in  com 
mand  of  Captain  Rowe,  of  the  9th  regiment  of  infantry. 

"A  shower  of  bullets  was  constantly  poured  from  the  streets,  the 
balconies,  the  house-tops,  and  churches,  upon  their  devoted  heads. 
Never  did  troops  endure  more  fatigue  by  watching  night  after  night, 
for  more  than  thirty  successive  nights,  nor  exhibit  more  patience, 
spirit,  and  gallantry.  Not  a  post  of  danger  could  present  itself,  but 
the  gallant  fellows  were  ready  to  fill  it;  not  a  sentinel  could  be  shot, 
but  another  was  anxious  and  ready  to  take  his  place.  Officers  and 
soldiers  vied  with  each  other  to  be  honoured  martyrs  in  their  country's 
cause.  This  is  the  general  character  of  the  troops  I  had  the  honour 
to  command,  and  I  was  confident  the  crown  of  victory  would  perch 
upon  their  standard  when  the  last  great  effort  should  be  made. 
Their  bold  and  determined  front  deprived  them  of  what  they  anx 
iously  desired. 

"  On  the  30th  ultimo,  General  Santa  Anna  had  established  his 
battery  bearing  upon  San  Jose,  and  opened  with  much  spirit. 
Having  anticipated  this  movement,  I  had  thrown  up  a  traverse  on 
the  plaza,  and  withdrawn  a  twelve-pounder  from  Loreto,  by  which 
means  I  was  enabled  to  answer  his  shot.  Towards  night  his  bat 
tery  ceased,  and  on  the  next  morning  was  withdrawn,  together  with 
from  three  to  four  thousand  of  the  besieging  force,  to  meet  the  rein 
forcements  then  daily  expected  at  Final. 

"  On  the  2d  instant,  I  availed  myself  of  some  reduction  of  the 
enemy's  numbers  to  make  a  sortie  against  certain  barricades  and 
buildings,  whose  fire  had  become  very  annoying.  One  of  the  ex 
peditions  was  confided  to  Captain  Small,  of  the  1st  Pennsylvania 
volunteers.  Passing  through  the  walls  of  an  entire  square  with 
fifty  men,  he  gained  a  position  opposite  the  barricade,  and  drove  the 
14  u 


158  COLONEL   CHILDS. 

enemy  with  great  loss,  they  leaving  seventeen  dead  on  the  ground. 
The  barricade,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  bales  of  cotton, 
was  consumed.  In  this  affair  Captain  Small  and  his  command  be 
haved  with  great  gallantry,  and  for  twenty-four  hours  were  unceas 
ing  in  their  labours  in  accomplishing  the  object,  when  I  sent  Lieu 
tenant  Laidley,  of  the  ordnance  corps,  to  blow  up  a  prominent 
building,  which  was  done  by  that  excellent  officer  in  good  style, 
when  the  entire  party  was  withdrawn,  with  few  wounded. 

"At  the  same  time,  Lieutenant  Morgan,  of  the  14th  regiment, 
with  a  detachment  of  marines,  and  Lieutenant  Merrifield,  of  the 
15th  regiment,  with  a  detachment  of  rifles,  attempted  to  gain  pos 
session  of  certain  buildings  from  which  we  were  receiving  a  most 
galling  fire.  Lieutenant  Merrifield  entered  the  buildings ;  Lieu 
tenant  Morgan  was  not  so  fortunate.  The  enemy  being  present  in 
great  force,  I  directed  him  to  fall  back,  with  the  loss  of  one  man 
killed.  On  the  5th  instant,  Captain  Herron  was  detached  with  his 
company  to  take  possession  of  a  building  from  which  the  enemy 
had  been  enfilading  the  plaza.  This  he  did  in  a  very  handsome 
manner,  and  to  my  entire  satisfaction,  with  only  a  few  men  wounded. 

"  Other  minor  acts  of  gallantry  and  good  conduct  were  exhibited 
by  officers  and  men  at  San  Jose,  and  from  Guadalupe  one  or  two 
successful  sorties  were  made  upon  the  enemy  when  engaged  in 
their  daily  attacks  on  San  Jose. 

"  From  Lieutenant-Colonel  Black,  the  immediate  commander  of 
San  Jose,  and  his  officers,  I  have  received  the  most  cordial  support. 
Colonel  Black,  for  more  than  thirty  days,  was  untiring  in  his  efforts 
and  zeal  for  the  safety  of  that  point.  Officers  and  men  were  at 
their  posts  night  and  day,  without  regarding  the  pelting  storm ;  and 
I  cannot  say  too  much  in  praise  of  the  gallant  colonel,  his  officers 
and  men,  before  and  during  the  siege." 

Immediately  after  this  gallant  defence,  General  Lane  arrived  at 
Puebla ;  but  ascertaining  that  Santa  Anna  had  retired  to  Atlixco,  he 
pushed  forward  for  that  place,  leaving  Colonel  Childs  still  in  com 
mand  of  the  post  he  had  so  ably  defended. 


GENERAL  GUSHING. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  CALEB  GUSHING  is  a  native  of  Newburyport, 
in  the  commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  educated  at  Har 
vard  University,  where  he  graduated  in  the  year  1817  with 
very  distinguished  honours.  He  afterwards  became  a  tutor  in  the 
University,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  American  Academy 
of  Arts  and  Sciences.  During  his  connection  with  the  University 
he  was  one  of  the  ablest  of  the  contributors  to  the  North  American 
Review.  Abandoning  these  purely  literary  pursuits,  he  studied 
law,  and  practised  in  his  native  town  till  the  year  1835,  when  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress  from  his  native  district,  on  the 
Whig  ticket.  He  continued  to  be  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rep 
resentatives  until  the  year  1843,  when  he  was  sent  on  the  mission 
to  China  by  President  Tyler. 

After  his  return  he  remained  retired  from  public  life  until  April 
14th,  1847,  when  he  was  appointed  brigadier-general  in  the  army. 
He  joined  General  Taylor  during  the  summer,  but  was  afterwards 
ordered  to  Vera  Cruz.  A  number  of  important  duties  detained  him 
at  this  place  until  after  the  capture  of  the  Mexican  capital,  thus  pre 
venting  him  from  participating  in  the  toils  and  dangers  of  our 
army.  His  prompt  discharge  of  every  known  duty,  and  his  ami 
ability  as  an  officer  and  companion,  have  endeared  him  to  all  those 
with  whom  the  fortune  of  war  has  placed  him. 


(159) 


COLONEL  KILEY. 


COLONEL  BENNET  RILEY  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  served 
with  distinction  in  the  war  of  1812.  From  the  post  of  ensign  of 
riflemen,  to  which  he  was  appointed  January  19th,  1813,  he  has 
risen  by  regular  gradation  to  his  present  rank.  At  Contreros  he  led 
the  assailing  party  on  both  days,  and  finally  carried  the  work  with 
the  bayonet,  in  a  style  which  has  rarely  been  surpassed.  During 
the  whole  of  those  eventful  days,  his  brigade  endured  hardships, 
and  performed  actions,  worthy  of  a  place  beside  the  wildest  re 
cords  of  chivalry.  General  Smith  thus  speaks  of  it :  — 

"The  opportunity  afforded  to  Colonel  Riley  by  his  position 
was  seized  by  that  gallant  veteran  with  all  the  skill  and  energy 
for  which  he  is  distinguished.  The  charge  of  his  noble  brigade 
down  the  slope,  in  full  view  of  friend  and  foe,  unchecked  even 
for  a  moment,  until  he  had  planted  all  his  colours  upon  their 
farthest  works,  was  a  spectacle  that  animated  the  army  to  the  bold 
est  deeds." 

Similar  was  the  conduct  of  Colonel  Riley  in  the  battle  along 
the  aqueducts  leading  to  the  capital.  He  stormed  some  of  the 
enemy's  positions,  and  on  the  night  of  December  13th  had  arrived 
before  the  principal  gate.  He  entered  Mexico  next  morning,  in 
company  with  the  commander-in-chief,  and  still  remains  at  the  head 
of  his  troops  in  the  capital. 


(160) 


COLONEL  BUTLER. 


PIERCE  M.  BUTLER  was  colonel  of  the  South  Carolina  regiment 
»f  volunteers,  and  highly  distinguished  himself  in  the  battles  of  the 
19th  and  20th  of  August.  He  had  left  a  sick-bed  to  share  the 
dangers  of  battle,  and  although  twice  wounded,  he  continued  in  the 
saddle,  animating  his  men,  until  struck  down  before  Churubusco. 
When  his  fall  was  announced  in  his  native  state,  it  caused  sensa 
tions  of  the  deepest  sorrow ;  friends  who  knew  his  worth  mourned 
for  him  as  for  a  brother,  and  strangers,  acquainted  with  him  only  by 
reputation,  felt  that  a  great  and  good  man  had  been  taken  from 
among  them.  General  Shields  thus  announces  his  death  to  the 
commander-in-chief :  — 

"The  noble  and  gallant  colonel  of  the  South  Carolina  regiment, 
P.  M.  Butler,  had  risen  from  his  sick-bed  to  share  the  hardships 
of  the  field,  and  the  dangers  of  the  combat,  with  his  devoted  regi 
ment.  He  survived  the  conflict  of  the  morning  to  lead  his  command 
where  victory  again  awaited  it.  Although  wounded  himself,  and 
having  lost  his  horse,  shot  under  him,  he  still  continued  to  press 
onward  near  the  colours  of  his  regiment,  until  the  fatal  ball  termi 
nated  his  life. 

"  A  gallant  soldier  in  his  youth,  he  has  won  in  his  death  upon  the 
field  of  battle,  fame  for  himself  and  his  regiment,  and  added  another 
name  to  the  roll  of  Carolina's  departed  heroes." 

The  New  Orleans  Delta  has  the  following  remarks  upon  the 
colonel's  death :  — 

"  The  death  of  this  gallant  South  Carolinian,  the  representative 
on  the  bloody  field  of  Churubusco  of  as  noble  a  race  of  heroes  as 
any  country  has  produced,  will  create  a  profound  and  extended 
sorrow  in  this  country.  He  has  been  for  a  long  time  a  conspicuous 
and  prominent  citizen  of  South  Carolina,  and  was  noted  for  his  great 
14*  Q2  (161) 


162  COLONEL   BUTLER. 

resolution  and  indomitable  courage.  He  possessed  military  quali 
ties  of  the  highest  order,  and  gave  promise  of  great  success  and  dis 
tinction  in  a  career  which,  alas !  terminated  at  its  very  commence 
ment.  Colonel  Butler  had  been  very  ill  for  several  days  previous 
to  the  battle,  but  when  he  heard  that  the  Palmetto  flag  was  going 
into  the  fight,  unaccompanied  by  him  to  whose  special  charge  it  had 
been  committed,  he  broke  loose  from  his  physicians,  abandoned  his 
sick  couch,  and,  weak,  ghastly,  and  almost  fainting,  mounted  his 
charger,  and  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  With  such 
an  example,  men  far  less  ardent  and  gallant  than  the  South  Caroli 
nians  would  have  been  prompted  to  deeds  of  superhuman  daring. 
But  there  was  no  such  incitement  necessary  to  impel  the  sons  of  the 
*  Harry  Hotspur  of  the  Union,'  as  Prentiss  once  styled  the  gallant 
Palmetto  State,  to  the  most  brilliant  and  conspicuous  display  of  mili 
tary  qualities.  Colonel  Butler,  though  twice  badly  wounded,  and 
weighed  down  by  faintness  and  loss  of  blood,  maintained  his  position 
until  a  third  wound  caused  his  death." 

"  We  lay  before  our  readers,"  says  the  Charleston  Mercury,  "the 
following  interesting  correspondence.  Its  perusal  cannot  fail  to 
heighten  our  admiration  of  the  character,  and  endear  more  strongly 
the  memory,  of  that  gallant  spirit  whose  heroic  aspirations  are  now 
quenched  in  the  grave.  Though  doomed  himself,  with  his  brave 
command,  as  was  supposed,  to  inglorious  inaction,  and  gloomy  and 
chafed  from  the  disappointment,  Colonel  Butler  could  appreciate 
the  yearnings  of  a  brother  soldier  for  a  closer  participation  in  the 
coming  fray — '  to  be  nearer  the  flashing  of  the  guns' — and  lend  his 
friendly  aid  to  secure  their  gratification.  The  letter  of  General 
Worth  is  as  honourable  to  himself  as  to  the  memory  of  the  gallant 
Butler.  Kindred  spirits !  they  could  appreciate  each  other ;  and 
gracefully  has  the  survivor  wreathed  the  laurel  and  cypress  over 
the  grave  of  his  friend.  A  soldier  needs  no  nobler  eulogist. 

Letter  from  Major-General  Worth  to  Hon.  A.  Butler,  [dated 
Tacubaya,  Mexico,  August  26/A,  1847.] 

"  SIR  :  I  trust  a  cordial  intimacy  and  friendship  of  twenty-five 
years  with  your  late  brother,  the  gallant  Colonel  Butler,  will  excuse 
the  trespass  of  a  stranger.  Your  brother  fell  most  gloriously  in  the 
great  battle  of  the  20th,  before  the  gates  of  Mexico.  In  that  bloody 
conflict,  no  man  gave  higher  evidence  of  valour  and  patriotism,  or 


COLONEL    BUTLER.  163 

exhibited  a  brighter  example.  He  fell  when  it  was  God's  will, 
precisely  as  he  would  have  desired  to  die.  His  body  rests  here  ; 
his  memory  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen ;  his  spirit,  bright  and 
pure  as  his  blade,  wilh  his  God. 

"  The  enclosed  letter,  written  the  day  before  the  battle,  I  did  not 
receive  until  the  day  after,  through  the  hands  of  Dickinson ;  and  it 
is  not  because  of  the  kind  things  said  by  a  friend's  partiality,  but 
because  it  is  probably  the  last  letter  he  penned,  that  I  send  it  to 
you ;  begging  that  at  some  future  day  it  may  be  returned  to  me,  to 
be  preserved  and  cherished. 

"  The  gallant  Palmettos,  who  showed  themselves  worthy  of  their 
state  and  country,  lost  nearly  one  half.  This  victory  will  carry  joy 
and  sorrow  into  half  the  families  of  South  Carolina.  Colonel  Dick 
inson  is  getting  on  well,  and  will,  it  is  hoped,  save  his  leg.  An 
armistice  is  concluded,  and  commissioners  meet  to-morrow  to  treat 
of  peace.  God  speed  them. 

Letter  from  Colonel  Butler  to  General  Worth,  [dated  San  Jlugus- 
tin,  August  19ih,  1847.] 

"  DEAR  GENERAL  :  We  are  here  in  tribulation  ;  I  can  but  hope, 
however,  it  is  but  temporary.  It  is  ordered  that  this  division  remain 
as  protection  to  the  train.  There  is  gloom  on  us  all :  while  I  am 
one  who  believes  there  will  be  fighting  enough  for  all.  The  moral 
effect  is  withering.  The  regiment,  though  weak  in  numbers,  is  up 
to  the  full  point,  and  I  trust  South  Carolina  may  have  a  place  in  the 
picture. 

44  We  have  been  watching  you  and  your  division  for  the  last  two 
days  with  fraternal  affection ;  but  the  entire  voice  of  the  army, 
where  I  have  been,  or  heard,  is  unbounded  confidence  in  4  Worth.' 
4  So  mote  it  be.'  But  I  have  strayed  from  the  principal  point  or 
purpose  of  my  note,  which  is  to  say,  our  friend,  Colonel  Dickinson, 
more  impatient,  and  not  so  long  a  soldier  as  myself,  desires  a  place 
nearer  the  flashing  of  the  guns ;  and  with  good  taste,  wishes  to  get 
near  you.  If  you  can  make  him  useful,  he  will  feel  much  gratified. 
I  am  aware  you  are  surrounded  by  a  talented  staff,  but  a  little  more 
of  a  good  thing  will  render  it  not  the  less  complete  or  effectual." 


MAJOR  VINTON. 


THE  son  of  a  lady  of  uncommon  powers  of  mind,  joined  with 
great  worth  and  influence  of  character,  the  elder  of  four  brothers, 
now  distinguished  in  the  church  and  the  army,  Vinton  was  a  boy  of 
unusual  promise  at  school,  and  was  celebrated  at  West  Point,  where 
his  instructors,  in  letters  written  at  the  time,  pronounced  him  "  un 
rivalled"  in  genius,  acquirements,  and  high  tone  of  moral  character. 
He  received  a  commission  when  scarcely  seventeen,  was  employed 
for  several  years  on  topographical  duty  on  the  Atlantic  coast  and 
the  Canada  line,  and  yet  was  so  good  a  tactician,  that  at  an  early 
age  he  was  appointed  by  General  Eustis  adjutant  at  the  school  of 
practice,  and  gave  entire  satisfaction,  in  that  arduous  office,  to  a  fas 
tidious  commander.  While  residing  at  Washington,  as  aid  to  Ge 
neral  Brown,  he  was  employed  by  the  government  in  several  duties 
of  a  special  nature,  and  certain  papers  which  he  prepared  were  so 
generally  admired  in  Congress,  that  in  a  leading  speech  in  favour 
of  the  Military  Academy,  Lieutenant  Vinton  was  referred  to  as  an 
instance  of  the  kind  of  men  the  system  of  that  institution  could 
produce. 

By  pursuing  a  course  of  rigid  self-denial  and  discipline,  he 
was  able  to  perform  labours  in  various  departments  of  art  and  science, 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  command  the  respect  of  men  to  whom  those 
pursuits  were  professional.  The  works  of  his  pencil  are  received 
among  artists ;  his  correspondence  upon  astronomical  subjects  was 
valued  by  men  of  science ;  his  general  scholarship  procured  him  a 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts  in  a  leading  university ;  his  edition  of  the 
work  on  military  tactics  was  highly  satisfactory  to  the  government 
and  the  general-in-chief ;  and  in  the  second  volume  of  Mr.  Sumner's 
Reports,  the  lawyer  will  find  an  argument  prepared  by  him  in  a  case 
in  which  he  was  personally  interested,  depending  before  Judge 
(164) 


HIS   ACQUIREMENTS.  165 

Story,  to  which  that  judge  paid  the  best  compliment  of  following,  in 
his  decision,  the  same  course  of  reasoning  pursued  in  the  argument. 

His  letters  show  him  to  have  been  as  remarkable  for  the  sound 
ness  of  his  views  as  for  his  acquisitions.  With  reference  to  several 
political  and  theological  subjects  of  those  times,  they  show  us  how 
a  thoughtful  man,  removed  from  the  strife  of  parties  and  the  whirl 
of  events,  may  take  the  same  views  at  which  the  actors  come  to 
after  the  retrospection  of  years. 

But  that  which  most  interests  us  in  his  character,  is  the  tender 
ness  and  depth  of  his  affections.  He  had  married  a  lady  of  distin 
guished  merit  and  beauty,  who  died  early,  leaving  three  children, 
two  daughters  and  a  son,  who  now  survive  both  their  parents.  In 
his  relations  as  a  father,  a  husband,  a  son,  and  a  brother,  he  was 
sensitive  to  every  impression,  and  gave  and  received  exquisite  plea 
sure  in  the  interchanges  of  affection  and  esteem.  In  one  letter  we 
find  an  earnest  plea  for  the  paternal  affection,  in  answer  to  a  sug 
gestion  that  it  might  interfere  with  the  love  and  duty  we  owe  to  the 
Most  High.  He  speaks  from  the  heart,  and  will  not  permit  the  na 
tural  affections  to  be  severed  from  religion,  and  set  over  against  the 
love  of  God. 

While  in  Florida,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  his  mind  came 
under  the  influence  of  religion  far  more  than  ever  before.  His 
whole  soul  was  warmed  into  a  new  life,  and  for  a  while,  like  the 
bewildered  apostles,  he  seemed  to  "  stand,  gazing  up  into  heaven." 
His  journal  and  letters  during  this  period  are  of  the  most  intensely 
interesting  character.  Nothing,  in  the  famed  life  of  Martyn,  more 
touches  the  heart,  than  the  humility,  self-accusation,  and  child 
like  devotedness  of  this  high-minded,  heroic  man.  At  a  secluded 
post,  in  the  midst  of  the  interminable  pine  forests,  the  solitude  and 
silence  of  which  he  describes  as  awful  and  almost  oppressive,  far 
from  his  family  and  friends,  his  mind  and  affections  ripened  into  the 
highest  state  of  Christian  experience  and  discipline.  He  then 
turned  his  thoughts,  or  rather,  they  were  turned  for  him,  towards 
the  office  of  the  Christian  ministry.  His  letters  are  full  of  doubts, 
hopes,  and  plannings  for  taking  holy  orders.  He  fears  that  his 
health  will  not  enable  him  to  follow  a  sedentary  life  ;  he  doubts  his 
fitness ;  fears  that  selfish  motives,  the  prospect  of  being  with  his 
family  and  friends,  may  combine  with  others ;  and  examines  him 
self  in  the  most  thorough  and  humble  manner.  He  cannot  honour 


166  MAJOR   VINTON. 

ably  quit  the  army  then  in  the  field,  and  the  prospect  of  retiring 
from  it  was  somewhat  distant.  His  pecuniary  affairs,  too,  were 
hardly  such  as  to  warrant  him  in  yielding  up  all  income  for  three 
or  four  years  ;  and  the  banks  in  which  his  property  was  invested 
were  embarrassed  and  in  danger.  Then,  too,  he  doubts  if  he  is  not 
too  old  to  begin  the  study  of  a  new  profession  ;  but  modestly  consi 
ders  his  acquirements  in  the  languages,  and  avers  that  he  aims  at 
no  distinction  as  a  scholar  or  a  preacher,  but  only  at  that  degree  of 
fitness  which  the  rules  of  the  Church  require,  to  enable  him  to  do 
his  work  in  some  humble  part  of  the  vineyard.  To  lose  no  time, 
he  sends  for  books,  and  in  his  tent  and  in  the  forest,  he  pores  over 
the  Greek  and  Hebrew,  the  commentators  and  sermonizers,  and  de 
voutly  uses  the  best  books  of  meditation  and  reflection.  He  pre 
pared  several  outlines  of  sermons,  and  in  his  choice  of  subjects 
leaned  towards  those  of  a  pathetic  and  personal  character,  that  are 
more  likely  to  bring  tears  into  the  eyes  than  to  tax  the  understand 
ing.  As  another  preparation,  he  used  to  read  parts  of  the  service 
aloud,  by  himself,  in  the  forest.  He  says,  in  his  journal : — "  It  re 
quires  time  and  habitude  for  one  to  become  reconciled  to  the  sound 
of  his  own  voice.  It  throws  one,  at  first,  into  absolute  trepidation. 
In  the  solitude  it  is  sufficiently  appalling.  What  must  it  be  in  an 
assembly  of  people,  a  silent  auditory,  where  a  thousand  eyes  are 
fixed  upon  you,  a  whole  congregation  of  faces  bent  upon  you,  ready 
to  criticise  and  condemn  the  slightest  fault  ?"  This,  from  a  man 
who  could  stand  with  firm  nerves  a  three-hours'  fire  from  concealed 
Indians,  scale  the  heights  and  walls  of  Monterey,  and  face  the  blaz 
ing  batteries  of  Vera  Cruz  ! 

It  was  Captain  Vinton's  fortune  to  be  engaged  in  one  of  the  few 
battles  of  that  distasteful  war — the  action  at  Lake  Munroe.  The 
event,  and  his  own  feelings,  are  faithfully  described  in  his  letter  of 
February  12th,  1837  :— 

"Early  in  the  morning  of  the  8th  instant,  half  an  hour  before 
daylight,  we  were  aroused  by  the  war-cry  of  the  savages,  and  a  fire 
was  poured  into  our  camp  on  all  sides,  except  that  towards  the  lake. 
Our  men,  though  recruits,  almost  without  exception,  repaired  with 
alacrity  to  their  posts,  and  returned  upon  the  enemy  full  volleys  of 
musketry.  The  morning  was  rendered  still  more  obscure  by  a  dense 
fog,  which,  with  the  smoke  from  the  fire-arms,  nearly  concealed  the 
enemy  from  our  sight.  But  we  had  the  direction  with  sufficient 


SERVICES   IN    FLORIDA    AND   RHODE   ISLAND.       167 

precision,  and  poured  in  our  shot  with  interest.  For  three  hours 
this  conflict  continued,  with  only  one  or  two  slight  intermissions,  our 
men  gaining  confidence  and  enthusiasm  every  moment.  At  length 
the  savages  began  to  slacken  their  lire,  and  made  off,  carrying  their 
dead  and  wounded,  but  leaving  behind  many  articles  which  they 
would  never  have  relinquished  but  for  discomfiture  and  necessity. 
They  came  down  upon  us  with  all  their  force,  thinking,  perhaps,  to 
take  possession  of  our  camp.  Their  numbers  were  large,  variously 
estimated  at  from  three  to  five  hundred,  and  their  fire  was  sustained 
with  a  vigour  and  pertinacity  unprecedented."  In  this  action  Cap 
tain  Mellon  was  killed,  and  Lieutenant  McLaughlin  and  thirteen 
privates  wounded.  One  man  was  struck  down  at  Captain  Vinton's 
side,  so  near  as  to  cover  him  with  blood. 

The  continuance  of  the  war  in  Florida,  and  the  financial  difficul 
ties  of  the  country,  as  well  as  his  uncertain  health,  obliged  him  to 
abandon  his  cherished  hope  of  the  ministry,  and  he  made  up  his 
mind  to  devote  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  the  duties  of  his  profes 
sion,  to  general  studies,  and  the  education  of  his  children. 

Being  at  Providence  during  the  Dorr  insurrection,  he  entered 
ardently  into  the  cause  of  the  state,  and  saw  the  necessity  of  mili 
tary  organization  and  discipline  to  save  the  lives  and  property  of  the 
inhabitants  from  the  recklessness  of  an  armed  mob.  He  hastened  to 
Washington,  and  asked  authority  to  offer  his  services  to  the  state. 
This  was  not  given,  and  he  was  told  that  he  must  act  on  his  own  re 
sponsibility.  As  he  was  not  forbidden,  he  took  the  responsibility ;  and 
had  he  been  called  to  account,  would  have  made  any  sacrifice  for  the 
good  of  his  native  state.  He  knew  the  risk  he  ran ;  for  it  was  generally 
feared  that  if  the  Dorr  movement  prevailed  in  Providence,  it  would 
also  prevail  in  Washington.  The  people  of  Rhode  Island  well  re 
member  and  appreciate  the  value  of  his  military  counsels  in  that 
crisis,  of  his  incessant  disciplining  of  the  volunteer  companies,  and 
the  spirit  and  intelligence  infused  into  the  young  citizen  soldiers  by 
his  course  of  military  lectures. 

While  stationed  at  the  arsenal  at  Augusta,  Georgia,  he  received 
orders  to  join  the  army  of  General  Taylor  on  its  march  from  the  Rio 
Grande  toward  the  city  of  Monterey.  During  this  march,  he  per 
formed  the  duties  of  a  field-officer,  often  with  a  separate  command, 
a  proof  of  peculiar  confidence  in  an  enemy's  country.  He  was  sent 


168  MAJOR   VINTON. 

to  take  possession  of  Mier,  which  it  was  thought  would  be  defended, 
and  to  act  as  governor  of  the  place  during  its  occupation.  This  he 
did,  and  remained  there  until  the  army  passed  on,  and  then  rejoined 
it  in  season  to  act  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  battle  of  Monterey. 

On  the  night  before  the  battle  of  Monterey,  he  writes  to  his 
daughter,  showing  a  spirit  of  preparation  for  the  duties  and  chances 
of  the  morrow,  which  could  not  but  ensure  him  success  in  what 
ever  might  fall  to  his  lot  to  attempt. 

He  was  with  General  Worth's  division,  and  was  actively  and 
prominently  engaged  in  the  operations  of  each  day.  He  was  with 
the  troops  as  they  passed  so  Jong  under  the  fire  from  the  two  heights, 
in  the  storming  of  those  heights,  the  capture  of  the  palace,  and  the 
penetrating  into  the  town,  the  digging  through  walls,  and  firing  from 
house-tops.  He  was  in  five  several  engagements,  in  each  of  which 
he  was  exposed  to  severe  fire  from  the  enemy.  In  the  storming  of 
the  second  hill,  he  led  a  battalion  on  one  side  of  the  hill,  while  Co 
lonel  Childs  commanded  on  the  other ;  and  after  forcing  their  way 
up,  over  rocks  and  brambles,  amid  a  shower  of  musket-balls,  they 
drove  the  enemy  from  the  top,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and 
forced  them  to  retreat  to  the  stronghold  of  the  Bishop's  Palace. 

The  part  performed  by  him  in  the  capture  of  the  Bishop's  Palace 
was  of  so  distinguished  a  character,  and  attracted  such  admiration  at 
the  time,  that  it  deserves  a  full  recital  here.  We  cannot  present  a 
juster  description  of  it  than  is  contained  in  a  letter  from  Captain 
Blanchard,  who  served  under  him  at  the  time. 

"I  found  Captain  J.  R.  Vinton  in  command  of  the  advance,  and 
he  then  told  me  that  his  plan  was  to  try  to  draw  the  enemy  from 
their  position,  in  and  near  the  palace,  and  when  they  were  fairly 
out,  to  rise  and  charge  them  vigorously,  and,  if  possible,  to  get 
possession  of  the  palace.  The  advance  was  covered  as  much  as 
possible  behind  the  rocks,  to  protect  them  from  the  dreadful  shower 
of  grape  and  musketry  which  the  enemy  kept  up  from  their  de 
fences.  I  asked  him  if  we  should  advance  or  fire.  He  told  me 
that  I  might  advance  if  I  did  not  expose  my  men  too  much,  and  that 
he  wished  me  to  fall  back  whenever  I  saw  the  enemy  coming  out, 
until  we  were  upon  his  line  of  ambush,  and  then  to  close  on  him 
and  rush  on  them.  It  was  a  well-conceived  plan,  and  the  result 
showed  that  it  was  well  executed.  The  enemy  were  induced  to 
come  out  and  charge,  and  as  they  came  up  the  hill,  Captain  Vinton 


ORDERED   TO   JOIN   SCOTT.  169 

shouted,  *  Now,  my  men,  close  and  drive  them !'  "With  one  will  they 
closed  to  centre,  delivered  their  fire,  and  with  charged  bayonets 
rushed  on  the  Mexicans.  They  were  thunderstruck,  and,  after  a 
moment's  stand,  broke  and  ran.  Our  men  were  in  the  palace  and 
fort  before  they  all  escaped,  and  in  ten  minutes  their  own  guns  were 
turned  upon  them.  The  main  body  under  Colonel  Childs  came 
down  in  solid  column,  and  we  were  the  victors.  It  was  a  stirring, 
thrilling  scene,  and  I  cannot  do  it  justice,  for  it  should  be  seen  to  be 
felt.  Captain  Vinton  derived  all  the  credit  which  his  position  en 
abled  him  to  obtain,  and  I  shall  always  be  of  opinion  that  his  plan 
was  an  admirable  one.  I  hope  he  will  be  promoted,  not  only  for  his 
skilful  and  gallant  conduct  on  that  day,  but  for  his  general  merito 
rious  conduct  as  an  officer." 

After  some  time  spent  at  Monterey  and  Saltillo,  he  was  ordered 
with  the  greater  part  of  the  regulars  to  join  General  Scott  in  the 
attack  on  Vera  Cruz.  Here  it  was  that  he  wrote  his  last  letter, 
which  has  already  been  given  to  the  public.  Those  who  knew  him 
know  how  truly  he  speaks  of  his  past  life.  His  country  will  not 
forget  in  what  spirit  he  gave  his  life  to  her  "  in  her  time  of  appeal." 
**  I  have  hitherto  lived  mostly  for  others — but  my  children  will  reap 
some  of  the  fruits  of  my  self-denial,  by  the  means  I  shall  leave  them 
of  living  independently,  and  securing  a  good  education.  I  commit 
them,  in  full  reliance,  to  the  care  of  their  Heavenly  Father,  and  I 
hope  their  trust  in  him  will  ever  be  at  least  as  firm  as  my  own.  My 
confidence  in  the  overruling  providence  of  God  is  unqualified,  so 
that  I  go  to  the  field  of  action  assured  that  whatever  may  befall  me 
will  be  for  the  best.  I  feel  proud  to  serve  my  country  in  her  time 
of  appeal ;  and  should  even  the  wo¥*l,  death  itself,  be  my  lot,  I  shall 
meet  it  cheerfully." 

His  habits  of  order  were  singularly  preserved  to  the  last.  On 
the  leaves  of  a  pocket-book  he  made  daily  and  almost  hourly  memo 
randa  in  pencil,  which  he  afterwards  transferred  at  leisure  to  his 
journal.  These  notes  are  carried  down,  in  a  clear  hand,  to  within 
less  than  an  hour  of  his  fall,  and  being  found  on  his  person  are  now 
in  the  possession  of  his  friends.  The  last  entry  is  as  follows : — 

"March  %Zd. — Ordered  to  the  trenches  to  command  the  batteries, 
early.  General  Scott  sent  in  a  flag  for  the  city  to  surrender,  at  2 
P.  M. ;  refused.  Seven  mortars  opened  at  4  P.  M.  Heavy  cannon 
ading" These  were  his  last  words. 

15  R 


170  MAJOR  VINTON. 

Towards  evening  of  the  22d  of  March,  Major  Vinton  went  out 
upon  an  exposed  situation,  to  watch  the  effect  of  our  shot  and  the 
direction  of  that  from  the  enemy.  He  remained  there  for  some  time, 
came  down,  and  said  to  Major  Martin  Scott,  who  commanded  the 
covering  party,  "Tell  the  officers,  major,  as  you  pass  the  mortars, 
that  our  guns  are  working  accurately."  He  had  just  returned  to 
his  post  when  a  huge  shell,  striking  the  top  of  the  parapet,  glanced 
and  struck  his  head,  fracturing  the  skull.  He  fell  instantly  dead, 
lying  upon  his  back,  with  his  arms  crossed  over  his  breast ;  his  face, 
as  an  officer  writes  who  was  present, "  retaining  its  habitual  expres 
sion,  sedate  and  earnest,  but  not  harsh."  The  officers  and  men 
rushed  to  him  as  he  fell,  and  gathered  about  him.  The  shell  did 
not  burst,  fortunately,  for  it  was  found  to  be  charged  with  a  pound 
of  powder  and  three  hundred  and  twenty  musket-balls.  Upon  his 
body  were  found  letters  from  his  children,  stained  with  his  life-blood, 
which  flowed  from  a  wound  in  his  breast.  He  was  buried  in  the 
military  coat  in  which  he  fell.  The  funeral  was  attended  by  the 
general-in-chief  and  all  the  officers  who  could  be  spared  from  duty, 
and  the  service  of  the  church  was  read  over  him  by  a  brother  officer 
— «,  friend  of  many  years — amid  the  roar  of  cannon,  the  falling  of 
the  enemy's  shot,  and  the  whirling  of  sand  in  the  fierce  Norther — 
snatched  from  the  victory  of  the  morrow,  that  his  spirit  might  gain 
a  greater  victory  over  death  and  the  grave. 


CAPTAIN  THOENTON. 


CAPTAIN  SETH  B.  THORNTON  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  served 
with  credit  in  the  late  Seminole  war.  In  June,  1836,  he  was  ap 
pointed  2d  lieutenant  in  the  army ;  and  in  February,  1841,  was 
commissioned  captain  of  the  2d  dragoons.  He  joined  the  Corps  of 
Observation,  at  its  first  organization,  and  after  its  arrival  at  the  Rio 
Grande,  was  destined  to  command  the  first  party  attacked  by  the 
Mexicans,  and  to  begin  the  war. 

In  consequence  of  the  rumoured  intentions  of  the  enemy,  Captain 
Thornton  was  despatched  on  the  24th  of  April,  1846,  to  the  crossing, 
above  Fort  Brown,  and  Captain  Ker  below.  Accompanying  Thornton 
were  Captain  Hardee,  Lieutenants  Mason  and  Kane,  and  sixty-one 
men.  After  proceeding  about  twenty-six  miles,  they  encountered  a 
Mexican,  who  reported  that  at  a  short  distance,  the  enemy  were 
stationed  to  the  number  of  two  thousand,  under  General  Torrejon. 
Partly  from  the  cowardice  of  their  Mexican  guide,  and  partly  from 
ignorance  of  the  country,  they  were  led  into  a  plantation  surrounded 
by  a  thick  chapparal  fence,  round  which  was  concealed  an  ambush 
of  more  than  ten  times  their  number.  Thornton,  followed  by  his 
command,  crossed  the  plantation  to  the  house,  where  he  eutered  into 
conversation  with  one  of  the  residents.  While  thus  engaged,  the 
enemy  took  possession  of  the  gate,  and  now  for  the  first  time,  the 
party  perceived  that  the  chapparal  was  crowded  with  infantry,  sup 
ported  by  cavalry,  who  were  preparing  for  a  charge.  This  was  met 
with  gallantry  and  success ;  but  in  the  struggle  Lieutenant  Kane 
was  unhorsed,  and  the  captain  became  separated  from  his  command. 
The  whole  Mexican  force  now  poured  in  a  destructive  fire  upon  the 
few  men  under  Captain  Hardee,  who,  notwithstanding,  rallied  and 
endeavoured  to  retreat  by  way  of  the  river.  This  he  was  unable  to 

(171) 


172  CAPTAIN   THORNTON. 

accomplish,  and  after  having  eleven  men  killed,  including  a  sergeant 
and  two  other  officers,  he  consented  to  surrender,  on  condition  of  his 
men  being  treated  as  prisoners  of  war,  declaring  that  if  this  were 
refused,  they  would  continue  the  battle  at  all  hazards.  This  was 
acceded  to,  and  the  captain  and  twenty-five  men  were  carried  into 
Matamoras. 

The  bravery  of  Captain  Thornton  deserves  notice.  As  we  have 
stated,  he  met  the  charge  of  the  cavalry  with  success,  but  was  un 
able  to  break  the  crowded  lines  of  the  infantry  by  whom  they  were 
supported.  The  chapparal  was  at  this  time  in  one  wide  blaze  of 
fire,  and  in  rushing  toward  it,  the  horse  of  the  captain  made  a  tre 
mendous  leap,  completely  clearing  the  whole  enclosure,  and  alighted 
in  the  midst  of  the  enemy.  This  feat,  however,  was  not  performed 
with  impunity ;  the  animal  received  a  severe  wound  at  the  very 
moment  of  its  accomplishment,  and  was  subsequently  obliged  to 
carry  his  intrepid  rider  through  a  host  of  armed  men.  The  captain 
escaped  unwounded,  and  though  both  horse  and  rider  subsequently 
encountered  a  severe  fall,  he  succeeded  in  approaching  within  about 
five  miles  of  the  American  camp.  But  at  this  place  he  was  inter 
cepted  by  an  advance-guard  of  the  enemy,  and  conveyed  prisoner 
to  Matamoras. 

Lieutenant  Mason  was  killed  before  the  chapparal,  and  Kane 
shared  the  fate  of  Thornton. 

Notwithstanding  the  disadvantages  against  which  the  Americans 
contended,  this  affair  was  a  source  of  unbounded  exultation  to  the 
enemy.  Besides  public  rejoicing  in  Matamoras,  Arista  wrote  to 
General  Torrejon  in  terms  of  congratulation,  which  would  have 
been  considered  extravagant  in  General  Taylor  after  the  battle  of 
Palo  Alto. 

Captain  Thornton  was  retained  by  the  Mexicans  until  after  the 
battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  when  an  exchange  of  prisoners  re 
stored  him  to  the  American  army.  He  was  immediately  placed 
under  arrest,  and  a  court  of  inquiry  held  upon  the  causes  of  his 
capture,  which  resulted  in  his  honourable  acquittal  of  all  blame  He 
accompanied  the  army  to  Monterey,  and  subsequently  joined  the 
comrnander-in-chief  in  his  march  toward  central  Mexico.  The 
hardships  of  that  terrible  journey  preyed  upon  his  naturally  delicate 
constitution,  and  rendered  him  an  invalid  before  the  city  of  the 
Montezuma's  greeted  the  army's  longing  sight.  Eager,  however, 


CAPTAIN   THORNTON.  173 

for  duty,  nothing  could  prevail  on  him  to  be  inactive,  as  soon  as 
prospect  of  battle  was  presented.  During  the  reconnoissance  near 
San  Antonio,  on  the  evening  of  the  18th  August,  he  accompanied 
the  men,  assisting  personally  in  the  most  fatiguing  duties.  While 
thus  engaged,  a  discharge  from  a  battery  within  the  fort  struck  him 
dead  from  his  horse,  and  wounded  a  guide. 

Thornton  seemed  born  to  misfortune.  He  was  a  passenger  in  the 
ill-fated  Pulaski,  and  after  doing  all  he  could  to  rescue  others,  he 
attempted  to  save  himself  by  seizing  upon  a  chicken-coop.  He 
picked  several  out  of  the  water ;  but  one  by  one  they  died  and 
dropped  off,  and  he  himself  became  a  half-famished  maniac,  before 
he  was  found.  In  military  affairs  he  was  always  unfortunate.  He 
was  endowed  with  a  courage  which  nothing  could  daunt ;  but  his 
spirit  was  much  too  ardent  and  impetuous  for  his  physical  structure, 
he  being  of  a  small  stature  and  delicate  constitution. 


15*  R2 


GENEKAL  KEARNY. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  STEPHEN  W.  KEARNY  is  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  entered  the  army  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  13th  infantry, 
March  12th,  1812.  He  rose  by  regular  gradation  to  brigadier-gene 
ral,  April  30th,  1846. 

Kearny  was  intended  by  his  parents  for  one  of  the  learned  pro 
fessions,  and  being  placed  at  Princeton  college,  made  rapid  advances 
in  the  various  studies  pursued  there.  The  outrages  perpetrated  by 
Great  Britain  on  our  commerce,  roused  him  from  a  scholar's  seclu 
sion,  and  fired  his  spirit  with  ambition  for  distinction  in  the  coming 
contest.  He  marched  under  Captain  [now  General]  Wool  to  the 
Canada  border,  and  fought  with  the  army  which  so  gallantly  com 
pensated  for  the  disgrace  of  Hull's  surrender  at  Detroit.  He  was 
with  Wool  at  Queenstown,  and  in  company  with  Colonel  Scott,  was 
taken  prisoner  by  an  overwhelming  British  force  on  the  Canadian 
side,  and  sent  to  Quebec.  In  a  little  while  he  was  exchanged,  re 
joined  the  army,  and  served  with  distinction  and  usefulness,  until 
the  close  of  the  war. 

From  this  time,  until  the  commencement  of  our  struggle  with 
Mexico,  he  remained  in  the  arrry,  performing  various  duties,  prin 
cipally  among  the  Indian  tribes  and  the  scattered  posts  owned  by 
government  in  the  western  wilderness.  He  conducted  several  ex 
peditions  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  New  Mexico,  gaining  valu 
able  information  of  those  territories  and  their  inhabitants,  and  ac 
customing  himself  to  the  labours  and  privations  of  a  western  hunter. 
At  the  same  time  he  employed  all  his  leisure  hours  in  gaining  a 
knowledge  of  military  tactics,  both  from  books  and  by  means  of 
personal  intercourse  with  distinguished  officers. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  1846,  by  order  of  government,  General 
(174) 


GENERAL  KEARNEY. 

Page  174. 


DESCRIPTION    OF   SANTA   FE.  175 

Kearny  marched  from  Fort  Leavenworth  with  sixteen  hundred 
regulars  and  volunteers,  on  an  expedition  against  Santa  Fe,  the 
capital  of  New  Mexico.  He  took  possession  of  this  place  in  Au 
gust,  having  marched  in  six  weeks  eight  hundred  and  seventy  miles. 
We  annex  a  rough  but  lively  sketch  of  the  town,  from  the  pen  of  a 
volunteer,  who  wrote  since  General  Kearny's  arrival  in  the  United 
States. 

"  On  the  Cimmerone  route  to  Santa  Fe,  the  scene  of  Indian  de 
predations  is  chiefly  between  what  is  called  the  *  Pawnee  Fork'  and 
Cimmerone  river,  a  distance  of,  say  two  hundred  miles ;  yet  the 
road  is  by  no  means  safe,- even  until  you  arrive  within  the  frontier 
settlements  of  New  Mexico.  We  travelled  most  of  the  way  with 
three  companies  of  the  mounted  regiment,  and  attribute  our  safety 
through  the  Indian  country  to  the  fact  that  the  military  were  with 
us — as  from  signs  frequently  seen,  there  is  no  doubt  the  Indians 
were  constantly  around,  watching  for  a  favourable  opportunity  to 
attack  us ;  but  we  were  always  vigilant,  and  thus  escaped.  I  am 
glad  the  government  has  sent  a  force  to  guard  the  plains.  Every 
thing  will  depend  upon  the  material  of  which  the  command  is  com 
posed.  Little  need  be  expected  if  it  is  made  up  of  officers  and  men 
who  sought  the  service  because  they  had  nothing  to  do  at  home  to 
keep  them  from  starving.  God  knows  there  are  enough  such  in  the 
service  already.  *  *  *  *  Every  coffee-house  in  Sante  Fe,  and 
their  name  is  legion,  was  provided  with  the  various  implements  of 
gambling,  particularly  the  national  game  of  *  monte.'  Intemperance 
and  public  disorder  —  the  never-failing  attendants  of  gaming  —  pre 
vailed  in  the  city. 

"  By  order  of  the  commanding  officer,  gaming  of  all  kinds  was 
prohibited.  Coffee-house  keepers  were  forbidden  to  sell  liquor  to 
soldiers — fandangos  were  not  allowed  except  on  certain  conditions 
and  terms.  A  provost  marshal  was  appointed  to  enforce  these  or 
ders.  As  if  by  magic  the  whole  condition  of  things  was  changed. 
All  this  has  been  brought  about  by  the  energetic,  and  at  the  same 
time  judicious,  exertions  of  Colonel  Easton,  who  has  been  indus 
trious  and  indefatigable  in  the  discharge  of  his  various  duties ;  at 
the  same  time  has  kept  himself  aloof  from  the  temptations  which 
so  easily  beset  every  American  who  comes  here,  whatever  be  his 
rank  or  station.  Thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  duties  of  his 
military  profession,  he  has  exhibited  in  his  daily  life  and  manners 


176  GENERAL  KEARNY. 

the  example  of  a  well-bred  American  gentleman — an  example  sel 
dom  seen  here,  and  which  has  not  been  lost  upon  these  people.  All 
classes,  Mexicans,  and  others,  civil  and  military,  are  loud  in  their 
praise  of  him.  I  only  speak  the  sentiments  of  every  one  here, 
when  I  say  that  no  officer  since  General  Kearny  left,  enjoys  so  uni 
versally  the  good  will  and  esteem  of  all  classes  as  does  Colonel 
Easton  at  the  present  moment.  Yet  much  which  I  know  he  con 
templated  doing  towards  redeeming  this  city,  is  left  undone  since  he 
was  superseded  in  command  ;  but  during  his  brief  career  as  com 
manding  officer,  he  has  done  enough  to  secure  for  him  a  name  which 
will  be  long  remembered  here  with  much  honour.  The  St.  Louis 
battalion  is  rapidly  improving  in  drill  and  discipline — in  this  last 
respect  it  is  excellent — while  the  drill  is  acknowledged  to  be  supe 
rior  to  any  volunteer  regiment  of  last  year.  *  *  The  battalion  is 
doing  well — as  an  evidence,  there  are  none  sick — that  is  dangerously 
— in  the  whole  command.  They  occupy  good  quarters,  barrack- 
rooms  once  occupied  by  the  Mexicans,  which  have  since  been  re 
paired  and  altered,  so  that  they  are  very  convenient,  with  an  excel 
lent  parade-ground  in  front.  The  adjutant,  Lieutenant  Holmes,  is, 
next  to  Colonel  Easton,  the  best  officer  in  the  battalion.  He  has 
been  most  diligent  in  his  application  to  his  profession,  and  now  ac 
quits  himself,  in  a  manner  that  would  honour  the  post  of  adjutant  in 
any  regular  regiment.  He  is  highly  esteemed  by  every  officer  and 
soldier  of  the  battalion,  and  by  all  who  know  him,  as  a  good  officer 
and  unimpeachable  gentleman. 

"  The  Mexicans  all  seem  quiet,  and  are  attending  to  their  regular 
business;  yet  many  who  pretend  to  know,  say  that  all  this  quiet  is 
but  the  calm  which  precedes  the  storm — that  a  general  insurrection 
is  brewing,  and  may  at  any  moment  break  out.  Others,  again,  who 
also  pretend  to  understand  the  Mexicans  here,  say  there  is  no  danger 
to  be  apprehended.  I  am  strongly  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  no 
thing  serious  is  at  hand.  Among  these  people,  there  are  many  who 
are  always  ready  for  a  row,  upon  the  slightest  pretence,  but  I  be 
lieve  the  majority  are  alike  indifferent  whether  the  Great  Mogul  or 
James  K.  Polk  rules  over  them,  provided  they  can  sell  their  grapes, 
peaches,  corn  and  red  peppers,  and  smoke  their  segars  in  peace. 

"An  express,  consisting  of  a  captain,  lieutenant  and  fifteen 
men,  started  for  Washington  yesterday.  The  captain  is  bearer  of 
despatches  from  head-quarters  here,  sent  by  the  commanding  officer, 


KEARNY   MARCHES   FOR   CALIFORNIA.  177 

Colonel  Newby,  of  the  Illinois  foot.  *****  The  Missouri 
regiment  is  not  in  as  good  a  condition  as  the  St.  Louis  battalion. 
The  appointment  of  Colonel  Price  as  brigadier-general  is  by  no 
means  popular  here.  *  *  *  *  His  command  while  here  was 
in  a  constant  state  of  disorganization  —  no  order,  no  discipline.  I 
could  fill  a  sheet  with  authentic  accounts  of  the  deplorable  state, 
not  only  of  his  immediate  command,  but  of  the  affairs  of  this  post 
while  he  was  commanding  officer,  so  far  as  he  had  the  management. 
One  fact  will  suffice  :  A  private,  whom  I  know,  and  believe  to  be  a 
man  of  truth,  told  me  that  at  one  time  there  was  not  an  officer  or 
non-commissioned  officer  'of  his  company  on  duty ;  that  they  used 
up  their  rations,  and  were  obliged  to  send  a  private  to  the  colonel  to 
know  what  to  do ;  and  it  was  some  days,  and  with  great  difficulty, 
before  they  at  last  obtained  subsistence  !  *****  Efforts 
have  been  made  to  have  Colonel  Easton  appointed  governor  of  New 
Mexico.  Petitions  have  been  circulated,  and  signed  by  almost  all 
the  inhabitants  and  officers  of  the  various  regiments,  to  have  the  ap 
pointment  made ;  but  it  is  understood  that  he  does  not  like  to  be 
separated  from  his  command  ;  if  it  goes  south  he  wishes  to  go  with 
it.  I  am  inclined  to  think  nothing  will  be  done  here  until  Price  ar 
rives,  unless  an  outbreak  is  attempted.  The  force  now  here  is  more 
than  enough  to  hold  this  whole  country." 

After  remaining  for  some  time  at  Santa  Fe,  General  Kearny 
marched  against  the  province  of  California,  publishing  at  the  same 
time  a  proclamation  in  which  he  claimed  New  Mexico  for  the 
United  States,  and  exhorted  the  inhabitants  to  submit  peaceably  to 
the  new  government.  But  on  his  road  he  received  information 
that  the  intended  object  of  his  expedition  had  been  already  attained 
by  a  party  under  Colonel  Fremont.  He  accordingly  sent  back  the 
greater  part  of  his  force,  and  with  a  small  troop  hurried  on  to  join 
Colonel  Fremont. 

New  Mexico  had  been  awed  but  not  completely  subdued  ;  and 
soon  after  Kearny's  departure  the  inhabitants  rose  in  vindication 
of  their  old  government.  Disturbances  were  also  taking  place  in 
California,  and  several  bands  of  citizens  spread  themselves  over  the 
country  and  kept  up  the  spirit  of  opposition.  On  the  8th  of  De 
cember,  1846,  General  Kearny  encountered  one  of  these  under 
the  celebrated  Pico,  near  the  Indian  town  of  San  Pascual.  The 
following  is  his  own  account  of  this  affair : 


178  GENERAL   KEARNY. 

"  Having  learned  from  Captain  Gillespie,  of  the  volunteers,  that 
there  was  an  armed  party  of  Californians,  with  a  number  of  extra 
horses  at  San  Pascual,  three  leagues  distant,  on  a  road  leading  to 
this  place,  I  sent  Lieutenant  Hammond,  1st  dragoons,  with  a  few- 
men  to  make  a  reconnoissance  of  them. 

"  He  returned  at  two  in  the  morning  of  the  6th  instant,  reporting 
that  he  had  found  the  party  in  the  place  mentioned,  and  that  he  had 
been  seen,  though  not  pursued  by  them.  I  then  determined  that  I 
would  march  for  and  attack  them  by  break  of  day.  Arrangements 
were  accordingly  made  for  the  purpose.  My  aid-de-camp,  Captain 
Johnson,  (dragoons,)  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  advance- 
guard  of  twelve  dragoons,  mounted  on  the  best  horses  we  had  ;  then 
followed  about  fifty  dragoons  under  Captain  Moore,  mounted,  with 
but  few  exceptions,  on  the  tired  mules  they  had  ridden  from  Santa 
Fe  (New  Mexico,  one  thousand  and  fifty  miles),  then  about  twenty 
volunteers  of  Captain  Gibson's  company,  under  his  command,  and 
that  of  Captain  Gillespie ;  then  followed  our  two  mounted  howitzers, 
with  dragoons  to  manage  them,  and  under  the  charge  of  Lieutenant 
Davidson,  of  the  regiment. 

"  The  remainder  of  the  dragoons,  volunteers,  and  citizens,  em 
ployed  by  the  officers  of  the  staff,  &c.,  were  placed  under  the  com 
mand  of  Major  Swords  (quartermaster),  with  orders  to  follow  on 
our  trail  with  the  baggage,  and  to  see  to  its  safety. 

"As  the  day  (December  6)  dawned,  we  approached  the  enemy 
at  San  Pascual,  who  were  already  in  the  saddle,  when  Captain 
Johnson  made  a  furious  charge  upon  them  with  his  advance-guard, 
and  was  in  a  short  time  after  supported  by  the  dragoons  ;  soon  after 
this  the  enemy  gave  way,  having  kept  up  from  the  beginning  a 
continued  fire  upon  us. 

"  Upon  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  Captain  Moore  led  off  rapidly 
in  pursuit,  accompanied  by  the  dragoons  mounted  on  horses,  and 
was  followed,  though  slowly,  by  the  others  on  their  tired  mules ; 
the  enemy  well-mounted,  and  among  the  best  horsemen  in  the  world, 
after  retreating  about  half  a  mile,  and  seeing  an  interval  between 
Captain  Moore  with  his  advance,  and  the  dragoons  coming  to  his 
support,  rallied  their  whole  force,  charged  with  their  lances,  and,  on 
account  of  their  greatly  superior  numbers,  but  few  of  us  in  front 
remained  untouched ;  for  five  minutes  they  held  the  ground  from 
us,  when  our  men  coming  up,  we  again  drove  them,  and  they  fled 


BATTLE  OF  SAN  PASCUAL.  179 

from  the  field,  not  to  return  to  it,  which  we  occupied  and  encamped 
upon. 

"A  most  melancholy  duty  now  remains  for  me  :  —  it  is  to  report 
the  death  of  my  aid-de-camp,  Captain  Johnson,  who  was  shot  dead 
at  the  commencement  of  the  action,  of  Captain  Moore,  who  was 
lanced  just  previous  to  the  final  retreat  of  the  enemy,  and  of  Lieute 
nant  Hammond,  also  lanced,  and  who  survived  but  a  few  hours. 
We  have  also  had  two  sergeants  killed,  two  corporals,  and  ten  privates 
of  the  1st  dragoons  ;  one  private  of  the  volunteers,  and  one  man,  an 
engage  in  the  topographical  department.  Among  the  wounded 
are  myself,  (in  two  places,)-  Lieutenant  Warner,  topographical  engi 
neers,  (in  three  places,,)  Captains  Gillespie  and  Gibson  of  the  volun 
teers,  (the  former  in  three  places,)  one  sergeant,  one  bugleman,  and 
nine  privates  of  the  dragoons ;  many  of  these  surviving,  although 
having  from  two  to  ten  lance  wounds,  most  of  them  when  unhorsed 
and  incapable  of  resistance. 

"  Our  howitzers  were  not  brought  into  the  action  ;  but  coming  to 
the  front  at  the  close  of  it,  before  they  were  turned,  so  as  to  admit 
of  being  fired  upon  the  retreating  enemy,  the  two  mules  before  one 
of  them  got  alarmed,  and  freeing  themselves  from  their  drivers,  ran 
off,  and  among  the  enemy,  and  were  thus  lost  to  us. 

"  The  enemy  proved  to  be  a  party  of  about  one  hundred  and  sixty 
Californians  under  Andreas  Pico,  brother  of  the  late  governor ;  the 
number  of  their  dead  and  wounded  must  have  been  considerable, 
though  I  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  how  many,  as  just  previous 
to  their  final  retreat  they  carried  off  all  excepting  six. 

"  The  great  number  of  our  killed  and  wounded  proves  that  our 
officers  and  men  have  fully  sustained  the  high  character  and  repu 
tation  of  our  troops ;  and  the  victory  thus  gained  over  more  than 
double  our  force  may  assist  in  forming  the  wreath  of  our  national 
glory. 

"  I  have  to  return  my  thanks  to  many  for  their  gallantry  and  good 
conduct  on  the  field,  and  particularly  to  Captain  Turner,  1st  dra 
goons,  (assistant  acting  adjutant-general,)  and  to  Lieutenant  Emory, 
topographical  engineers,  who  were  active  in  the  performance  of  their 
duties,  and  in  conveying  orders  from  me  to  the  command. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  having  made  ambulances  for  our 
wounded,  and  interred  the  dead,  we  proceeded  on  our  march,  when 
the  enemy  showed  himself,  occupying  the  hills  in  our  front,  but 

s 


180  GENERAL   KEARNY. 

which  they  left  as  we  approached ;  till  reaching  San  Bernado,  a 
party  of  them  took  possession  of  a  hill  near  to  it,  and  maintained 
their  position  until  attacked  by  our  advance,  who  quickly  drove 
them  from  it,  killing  and  wounding  five  of  their  number,  with  no 
loss  on  our  part. 

"  On  account  of  our  wounded  men,  and  upon  the  report  of  the 
surgeon  that  rest  was  necessary  for  them,  we  remained  at  this  place 
till  the  morning  of  the  llth,  when  Lieutenant  Gray,  of  the  navy,  in 
command  of  a  party  of  sailors  and  marines,  sent  out  from  San  Diego 
by  Commodore  Stockton,  joined  us.  We  proceeded  at  10,  A.  M., 
the  enemy  no  longer  showing  himself;  and  on  the  12th  (yesterday) 
we  reached  this  place  ;  and  I  have  now  to  offer  my  thanks  to  Com 
modore  Stockton,  and  all  of  his  gallant  command,  for  the  very  many 
kind  attentions  we  have  received  and  continue  to  receive  from 
them." 

After  this  battle,  General  Kearny  continued  his  march,  severely 
harassed  by  scouting  parties  of  the  enemy,  until  the  8th  of  January, 
1847,  when  he  came  up  with  their  main  army  at  Puebla  de  los 
Angelos.  Here,  in  company  with  Commodore  Stockton,  he  fought 
a  desultory  battle,  which  lasted  two  days,  and  terminated  in  the  over 
throw  of  the  Mexicans.  The  American  loss  was  one  killed  and 
thirteen  wounded  ;  that  of  the  enemy  rather  more.  Kearny  then 
took  possession  of  the  city  without  further  molestation. 

The  operations  attending  this  battle  have  unfortunately  become  a 
matter  of  serious  misunderstanding  between  General  Kearny,  Com 
modore  Stockton,  and  Colonel  Fremont.  The  commission  of  the 
former  as  governor  of  California,  was  given  by  the  President  and 
signed  with  his  signature.  To  this  Stockton  objected,  on  the  plea 
that  the  province  had  been  captured  and  placed  under  military  gov 
ernment  prior  to  the  date  of  the  general's  authority.  To  this  Colo 
nel  Fremont  agreed,  and  refused  to  obey  the  orders  of  Kearny.  At 
that  time  the  general's  force  was  so  small  that  he  was  obliged  to 
yield  to  circumstances  ;  but  on  receiving  reinforcements,  he  entered 
upon  full  command,  and  seizing  Colonel  Fremont,  sent  him  under 
arrest  to  the  United  States.  His  trial  for  disobedience  of  orders  is 
still  going  on,  and  elicits  considerable  public  attention. 


COLONEL  DONIPHAN. 


THE  expedition  of  Colonel  Doniphan  is  one  of  the  most  remark 
able  in  all  history.  Like  those  of  Kearny  and  Scott,  it  will  form  an 
example  to  the  world  #f  the  almost  superhuman  exertions  of  which 
our  soldiery,  both  regular  and  volunteer,  are  capable.  The  Honour 
able  Thomas  Benton  gave  the  subjoined  vivid  description  of  it  in  an 
address  to  the  colonel's  command  on  its  return  home  : — 

"  Your  march  and  exploits  have  been  among  the  most  wonderful 
of  the  age.  At  the  call  of  your  country  you  marched  a  thousand 
miles  to  the  conquest  of  New  Mexico,  as  part  of  the  force  under 
General  Kearny,  and  achieved  that  conquest  without  the  loss  of  a 
m-an  or  the  fire  of  a  gun.  That  work  finished,  and  New  Mexico, 
itself  so  distant,  and  so  lately  the  Ultima  Thule — the  outside  boun 
dary  of  speculation  and  enterprise  —  so  lately  a  distant  point  to  be 
attained,  becomes  itself  a  point  of  departure  —  a  beginning  point  for 
new  and  far  more  extended  expeditions.  You  look  across  the  long 
and  lofty  chain  —  the  Cordilleras  of  North  America — which  divide 
the  Atlantic  from  the  Pacific  waters  ;  and  you  see  beyond  that  ridge 
a  savage  tribe  which  had  been  long  in  the  habit  of  depredating  upon 
the  province  which  had  just  become  an  American  conquest.  You, 
a  part  only  of  the  subsequent  Chihuahua  column,  under  Jackson 
and  Gilpin,  march  upon  them — bring  them  to  terms — and  they  sign 
a  treaty  with  Colonel  Doniphan,  in  which  they  bind  themselves  to 
cease  their  depredations  on  the  Mexicans,  and  to  become  the  friends 
of  the  United  States.  A  novel  treaty  that !  signed  on  the  western 
confines  of  New  Mexico,  between  parties  who  had  hardly  ever  heard 
each  other's  names  before,  and  to  give  peace  and  protection  to  Mexi 
cans  who  were  hostile  to  both.  This  was  the  meeting  and  this  the 
parting  of  the  Missouri  volunteers,  with  the  numerous  and  savage 
tribe  of  the  Navaho  Indians,  living  on  the  waters  of  the  gulf  of  Cali- 
16  (181) 


182  COLONEL   DONIPHAN. 

fornia,  and  so  long  the  terror  and  scourge  of  Sonora,  Sinaloa,  and 
New  Mexico. 

"This  object  accomplished,  and  impatient  of  inactivity,  and  with 
out  orders,  (General  Kearny  having  departed  for  California,)  you 
cast  about  to  carve  out  some  new  work  for  yourselves.  Chihuahua, 
a  rich  and  populous  city  of  nearly  thirty  thousand  souls,  the  seat  of 
government  of  the  state  of  that  name,  and  formerly  the  residence  of 
the  captains  general  of  the  Internal  Provinces  under  the  vice-regal 
government  of  New  Spain,  was  the  captivating  object  which  fixed 
your  attention.  It  was  a  far  distant  city — about  as  far  from  St.  Louis 
as  Moscow  is  from  Paris  ;  and  towns,  and  enemies,  and  a  large  river, 
and  defiles,  and  mountains,  and  the  desert  whose  ominous  name  por 
tends  death  to  travellers — el  Jornada  de  los  muertos — the  journey 
of  the  dead — all  lay  between  you.  It  was  a  perilous  enterprise,  and 
a  discouraging  one  for  a  thousand  men,  badly  equipped,  to  contem 
plate.  No  matter.  Danger  and  hardship  lent  it  a  charm,  and  the 
adventurous  march  was  resolved  on,  and  the  execution  commenced. 
First,  the  ominous  desert  was  passed,  its  character  vindicating  its 
title  to  its  mournful  appellation  —  an  arid  plain  of  ninety  miles, 
strewed  with  the  bones  of  animals  that  had  perished  of  hunger  and 
thirst— -little  hillocks  of  stone,  and  the  solitary  cross,  erected  by  pious 
hands,  marking  the  spot  where  some  Christian  had  fallen  victim  of 
the  savage,  of  the  robber,  or  of  the  desert  itself — no  water — no  ani 
mal  life — no  sign  of  habitation.  There  the  Texan  prisoners,  driven 
by  the  cruel  Salazar,  had  met  their  direst  sufferings,  unrelieved,  as 
in  other  parts  of  the  country,  by  the  compassionate  ministrations  (for 
where  is  it  that  woman  is  not  compassionate?)  of  the  pitying  women. 
The  desert  was  passed,  and  the  place  for  crossing  the  river  approach 
ed.  A  little  arm  of  the  river  Bracito  (in  Spanish),  made  out  from 
its  side.  There  the  enemy,  in  superior  numbers,  and  confident  in 
cavalry  and  artillery,  undertook  to  bar  the  way.  Vain  pretension  ! 
Their  discovery,  attack,  and  rout,  were  about  simultaneous  opera 
tions.  A  few  minutes  did  the  work !  And  in  this  way  our  Missouri 
volunteers  of  the  Chihuahua  column,  spent  their  Christmas  day  of 
the  year  1846. 

"  The  victory  of  Bracito  opened  the  way  to  the  crossing  of  the 
river  Del  Norte,  and  to  admission  into  the  beautiful  little  town  of 
the  Paso  del  Norte,  where  a  neat  cultivation,  a  comfortable  people, 
fields,  orchards  and  vineyards,  and  a  hospitable  reception,  offered 


DONIPHAN'S  REMARKABLE  EXPEDITION.        183 

the  rest  and  refreshment  which  toils  and  dangers  and  victory  had 
won.  You  rested  there  till  artillery  was  brought  down  from  Santa 
Fe  ;  but  the  pretty  town  of  the  Paso  del  Norte,  with  all  its  enjoy 
ments,  and  they  were  many,  and  the  greater  for  the  place  in  which 
they  were  found,  was  not  a  Capua  to  the  men  of  Missouri.  You 
moved  forward  in  February,  and  the  battle  of  the  Sacramento,  one 
of  the  military  marvels  of  the  age,  cleared  the  route  to  Chihuahua, 
which  was  entered  without  further  resistance.  It  had  been  entered 
once  before  by  a  detachment  of  American  troops  ;  but  under  circum 
stances  how  different !  In  the  year  1807,  Lieutenant  Pike  and  his 
thirty  brave  men,  taken  prisoners  on  the  head  of  the  Rio  del  Norte, 
had  been  marched  captives  into  Chihuahua:  in  the  year  1847, 
Doniphan  and  his  men  entered  it  as  conquerors.  The  paltry  triumph 
of  a  captain-general  over  a  lieutenant,  was  effaced  in  the  triumphal 
entrance  of  a  thousand  Missourians  into  the  grand  and  ancient  capi 
tal  of  all  the  Internal  Provinces  I  and  old  men,  still  alive,  could 
remark  the  grandeur  of  the  American  spirit  under  both  events — the 
proud  and  lofty  bearing  of  the  captive  thirty — the  mildness  and  mo 
deration  of  the  conquering  thousand. 

"Chihuahua  was  taken,  and  responsible  duties,  more  delicate 
than  those  of  arms,  were  to  be  performed.  Many  American  citizens 
were  there,  engaged  in  trade  ;  much  American  property  was  there. 
All  this  was  to  be  protected,  both  lives  and  property,  and  by  peace 
ful  arrangement ;  for  the  command  was  too  small  to  admit  of  divi 
sion,  and  of  leaving  a  garrison.  Conciliation  and  negotiation  were 
resorted  to,  and  successfully.  Every  American  interest  was  provided 
for,  and  placed  under  the  safeguard,  first,  of  good  will,  and  next, 
of  guaranties  not  to  be  violated  with  impunity. 

"Chihuahua  gained,  it  became,  like  Santa  Fe,  not  the  terminating 
point  of  a  long  expedition,  but  the  beginning  point  of  a  new  one. 
General  Taylor  was  somewhere — no  one  knew  exactly  where — but 
some  seven  or  eight  hundred  miles  towards  the  other  side  of  Mexico. 
You  had  heard  that  he  had  been  defeated  —  that  Buena  Vista  had 
not  been  a  good  prospect  to  him.  Like  good  Americans,  you  did 
not  believe  a  word  of  it ;  but,  like  good  soldiers,  you  thought  it  best 
to  go  and  see.  A  volunteer  party  of  fourteen,  headed  by  Collins, 
of  Boonville,  undertook  to  penetrate  to  Saltiilo,  and  bring  you  infor 
mation  of  his  condition.  They  set  out.  Amidst  innumerable  dangers 
they  accomplish  their  purpose,  and  return.  You  march.  A  van- 


184  COLONEL   DONIPHAN. 

guard  of  one  hundred  men,  led  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mitchell,  led 
the  way.  Then  came  the  main  body,  (if  the  name  is  not  a  burlesque 
on  such  a  handful,)  commanded  by  Colonel  Doniphan  himself. 

"  The  whole  table-land  of  Mexico,  in  all  its  breadth,  from  west  to 
east,  was  to  be  traversed.  A  numerous  and  hostile  population  in 
towns — treacherous  Camanches  in  the  mountains — were  to  be  pass 
ed.  Every  thing  was  to  be  self-provided — provisions,  transportation, 
fresh  horses  for  remounts,  and  even  the  means  of  victory  —  and  all 
without  a  military  chest,  or  even  an  empty  box.  in  which  govern 
ment  gold  had  ever  reposed.  All  was  accomplished.  Mexican 
towns  were  passed,  in  order  and  quiet;  plundering  Camanches 
were  punished ;  means  were  obtained  from  traders  to  liquidate  in 
dispensable  contributions ;  and  the  wants  that  could  not  be  supplied 
were  endured  like  soldiers  of  veteran  service. 

"  I  say  the  Camanches  were  punished.  And  here  presents  itself 
an  episode  of  a  novel,  extraordinary,  and  romantic  kind — Americans 
chastising  savages  for  plundering  people  who  they  themselves  came 
to  conquer,  and  forcing  the  restitution  of  captives  and  of  plundered 
property.  A  strange  story  this  to  tell  in  Europe,  where  backwoods 
character,  western  character,  is  not  yet  completely  known.  But  to 
the  facts.  In  the  muskeet  forest  of  the  Bolson  de  Mapimi,  and  in 
the  sierras  around  the  beautiful  town  and  fertile  district  of  Parras, 
and  in  all  the  open  country  for  hundreds  of  miles  round  about,  the 
savage  Camanches  have  held  dominion  ever  since  the  usurper  Santa 
Anna  disarmed  the  people,  and  sally  forth  from  their  fastnesses  to 
slaughter  men,  plunder  cattle,  and  carry  off  women  and  children. 
An  exploit  of  this  kind  had  just  been  performed  on  the  line  of  the 
Missourians'  march,  not  far  from  Parras,  and  an  advanced  party 
chanced  to  be  in  that  town  at  the  time  the  news  of  the  depredation 
arrived  there.  It  was  only  fifteen  strong.  Moved  by  gratitude  for 
the  kind  attentions  of  the  people,  especially  the  women,  to  the  sick 
of  General  Wool's  command,  necessarily  left  in  Parras,  and  unwil 
ling  to  be  outdone  by  enemies  in  generosity,  the  heroic  fifteen,  upon 
the  spot,  volunteered  to  go  back,  hunt  out  the  depredators,  and 
punish  them,  without  regard  to  numbers.  A  grateful  Mexican  be 
came  their  guide.  On  their  way  they  fell  in  with  fifteen  more  of 
their  comrades ;  and,  in  a  short  time,  seventeen  Camanches  killed 
out  of  sixty-five,  eighteen  captives  restored  to  their  families,  and 


DONIPHAN'S  REMARK'ABLE  EXPEDITION.        185 

three  hundred  and  fifty  head  of  cattle  recovered  for  their  owners, 
was  the  fruit  of  this  sudden  and  romantic  episode. 

"  Such  noble  conduct  was  not  without  its  effect  on  the  minds  of 
the  astonished  Mexicans.  An  official  document  from  the  prefect  of 
the  place  to  Captain  Reid,  leader  of  this  detachment,  attests  the 
verity  of  the  fact,  and  the  gratitude  of  the  Mexicans ;  and  constitutes 
a  trophy  of  a  new  kind  in  the  annals  of  war.  Here  it  is  in  the 
original  Spanish,  and  I  will  read  it  off  in  English. 

"It  is  officially  dated  from  the  Prefecture  of  the  Department  of 
Parras,  signed  by  the  prefect,  Jose  Ignacio  Arrabe,  and  addressed 
to  Captain  Reid,  the  18th  o/  May,  and  says  : 

"  *  At  the  first  notice  that  the  barbarians,  after  killing  many,  and 
taking  captives,  were  returning  to  their  haunts,  you  generously  and 
bravely  offered,  with  fifteen  of  your  subordinates,  to  fight  them  on 
their  crossing  by  the  Paso,  executing  this  enterprise  with  celerity, 
address,  and  bravery,  worthy  of  all  eulogy,  and  worthy  of  the  bril 
liant  issue  which  all  celebrate.  You  recovered  many  animals  and 
much  plundered  property,  and  eighteen  captives  were  restored  to 
liberty  and  to  social  enjoyments,  their  souls  overflowing  with  a  lively 
sentiment  of  joy  and  gratitude,  which  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  town 
equally  breathe,  in  favour  of  their  generous  deliverers  and  their  va 
liant  chief.  The  half  of  the  Indians  killed  in  the  combat,  and  those 
which  fly  wounded,  do  not  calm  the  pain  which  all  feel  for  the  wound 
which  your  excellency  received  defending  Christians  and  civilized 
beings  against  the  rage  and  brutality  of  savages.  All  desire  the 
speedy  re-establishment  of  your  health ;  and  although  they  know- 
that  in  your  own  noble  soul  will  be  found  the  best  reward  of  your 
conduct,  they  desire  also  to  address  you  the  expression  of  their  gra 
titude  and  high  esteem.  I  am  honoured  in  being  the  organ  of  the 
public  sentiment ;  and  pray  you  to  accept  it,  with  the  assurance  of 
my  most  distinguished  esteem. 

" « God  and  Liberty !' 

"  This  is  a  trophy  of  a  new  kind  in  war,  won  by  thirty  Missou- 
rians,  and  worthy  to  be  held  up  to  the  admiration  of  Christendom. 

"  The  long  march  from  Chihuahua  to  Monterey  was  made  more 
in  the  character  of  protection  and  deliverance  than  of  conquest  arid 
invasion.  Armed  enemies  were  not  met,  and  peaceful  people  were 
not  disturbed.  You  arrived  in  the  month  of  May  in  General  Tay 
lor's  camp,  and  about  in  a  condition  to  vindicate,  each  of  you  for 
16* 


186  COLONEL'  DONIPHAN. 

himself,  your  lawful  title  to  the  double  sobriquet  of  the  general, 
with  the  addition  to  it  which  the  colonel  of  the  expedition  has  sup 
plied  —  ragged  —  as  well  as  rough  and  ready.  No  doubt  you  all 
showed  title,  at  that  time,  to  that  third  sobriquet ;  but  to  see  you 
now,  so  gayly  attired,  so  sprucely  equipped,  one  might  suppose  that 
you  had  never,  for  an  instant,  been  a  stranger  to  the  virtues  of  soap 
and  water,  or  the  magic  ministrations  of  the  blanchisseuse,  and  the 
elegant  transformations  of  the  fashionable  tailor.  Thanks,  perhaps, 
to  the  difference  between  pay  in  the  lump  at  the  end  of  service,  and 
driblets  in  the  course  of  it. 

"  You  arrived  in  General  Taylor's  camp  ragged  and  rough,  as 
we  can  well  conceive,  and  ready,  as  I  can  quickly  show.  You  re 
ported  for  duty!  you  asked  for  service  !  —  such  as  a  march  upon 
San  Luis  de  Potosi,  Zacatecas,  or  the  *  halls  of  the  Montezumas,'  or 
any  thing  in  that  way  that  the  general  should  have  a  mind  to.  If 
he  was  going  upon  any  excursion  of  that  kind,  all  right.  No  matter 
about  fatigues  that  were  passed,  or  expirations  of  service  that  might 
accrue ;  you  came  to  go,  and  only  asked  the  privilege. 

"  That  is  what  I  call  ready.  Unhappily  the  conqueror  of  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey,  and  Buena  Vista,  was  not  in 
exactly  the  condition  that  the  lieutenant-general,  that  might  have 
been,  intended  him  to  be.  He  was  not  at  the  head  of  twenty  thou 
sand  men !  he  was  not  at  the  head  of  any  thousands  that  would 
enable  him  to  march!  and  had  to  decline  the  proffered  service. 
Thus  the  long-marched  and  well-fought  volunteers — the  rough,  the 
ready,  and  the  ragged,  had  to  turn  their  faces  towards  home,  still 
more  than  two  thousand  miles  distant.  But  this  being  mostly  by 
water,  you  hardly  count  it  in  the  recital  of  your  march.  But  this 
is  an  unjust  omission,  and  against  the  precedents  as  well  as  unjust. 
*  The  Ten  Thousand'  counted  the  voyage  on  the  Bkck  Sea  as  well 
as  the  march  from  Babylon ;  and  twenty  centuries  admit  the  validity 
of  the  count.  The  present  age,  and  posterity,  will  include  in  '  the 
going  out  and  coming  in'  of  the  Missouri  Chihuahua  volunteers,  the 
water  voyage  as  well  as  the  land  march ;  and  then  the  expedition 
of  the  One  Thousand  will  exceed  that  of  the  Ten  by  some  two 
thousand  miles. 

"The  last  nine  hundred  miles  of  your  land  march,  from  Chihua 
hua  to  Matamoras,  you  made  in  forty-five  days,  bringing  seventeen 
pieces  of  artillery,  eleven  of  which  were  taken  from  the  Sacramento 


BATTLE    OF   SACRAMENTO.  187 

and  Bracito.  Your  horses,  travelling  the  whole  distance  without 
United  States'  provender,  were  astonished  to  find  themselves  regaled 
on  their  arrival  on  the  Rio  Grande  frontier,  with  hay,  corn,  and  oats 
from  the  States.  You  marched  further  than  the  farthest,  fought  as 
well  as  the  best,  left  order  and  quiet  in  your  train,  and  cost  less  mo 
ney  than  any. 

"  You  arrive  here  to-day,  absent  one  year,  marching  and  fighting 
all  the  time,  bringing  trophies  of  cannon  and  standards  from  fields 
whose  names  were  unknown  to  you  before  you  set  out,  and  only 
grieving  that  you  could  not  have  gone  further.  Ten  pieces  of  can 
non,  rolled  out  of  Chihuahua  to  arrest  your  march,  now  roll  through 
the  streets  of  St.  Louis,  to  grace  your  triumphal  return.  Many 
standards,  all  pierced  with  bullets,  while  waving  over  the  heads  of 
the  enemy  at  the  Sacramento,  now  wave  at  the  head  of  your  column. 
The  black  flag,  brought  to  the  Bracito,  to  indicate  the  refusal  of  that 
quarter  which  its  bearers  so  soon  needed  and  received,  now  takes 
its  place  among  your  trophies,  and  hangs  drooping  in  their  nobler 
presence.  To  crown  the  whole — to  make  public  and  private  hap 
piness  go  together — to  spare  the  cypress  where  the  laurel  hangs  in 
clusters — this  long  and  perilous  march,  with  all  its  accidents  of  field 
and  camp,  presents  an  incredibly  small  list  of  comrades  lost.  Al 
most  all  return !  and  the  joy  of  families  resounds,  intermingled  with 
the  applauses  of  the  State." 

The  following  is  the  colonel's  account  of  the  great  battle  of  Sacra 
mento  : — 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  February,  1847,  we  left  the  town 
of  El  Paso  del  Norte,  escorting  the  merchant  train  or  caravan  of 
about  three  hundred  and  fifteen  wagons  for  the  city  of  Chihuahua. 
Our  force  consisted  of  nine  hundred  and  twenty-four  effective  men ; 
one  hundred  and  seventeen  officers  and  privates  of  the  artillery ; 
ninety-three  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mitchell's  escort,  and  the  re 
mainder  the  first  regiment  Missouri  mounted  riflemen.  We  pro 
gressed  in  the  direction  of  this  place  until  the  25th,  when  we  were 
informed  by  our  spies  that  the  enemy,  to  the  number  of  fifteen 
hundred  men,  were  at  Inseneas,  the  country-seat  of  Governor  Trias, 
about  twenty-five  miles  in  advance. 

"When  we  arrived,  on  the  evening  of  the  26th,  near  that  point, 
we  found  that  the  force  had  retreated  in  the  direction  of  this  city. 
On  the  evening  of  the  27th  we  arrived  at  Sans,  and  learned  from 


188  COLONEL    DONIPHAN. 

our  spies  that  the  enemy,  in  great  force,  had  fortified  the  pass  of  the 
Sacramento  river,  about  fifteen  miles  in  advance,  and  about  the 
same  distance  from  this  city.  We  were  also  informed  that  there 
was  no  water  between  the  point  we  were  at  and  that  occupied  by 
the  enemy;  we  therefore  determined  to  halt  until  morning.  At 
sunrise  on  the  28th,  the  last  day  of  February,  we  took  up  the  line 
of  march  and  formed  the  whole  train,  consisting  of  three  hundred 
and  fifteen  heavy  traders'  wagons  and  our  commissary  and  company 
wagons,  into  four  columns,  thus  shortening  our  line  so  as  to  make  it 
more  easily  protected. 

"  We  placed  the  artillery  and  all  the  command,  except  two  hun 
dred  cavalry  proper,  in  the  intervals  between  the  columns  of  wagons. 
We  thus  fully  concealed  our  force  and  its  position  by  masking  our 
force  with  the  cavalry.  When  we  arrived  within  three  miles  of  the 
enemy,  we  made  a  reconnoissance  of  his  position  and  the  arrange 
ment  of  his  forces.  This  we  could  easily  do  —  the  road  leading 
through  an  open  prairie  valley  between  the  sterile  mountains. 
The  Pass  of  the  Sacramento  is  formed  by  a  point  of  the  mountains 
on  our  right,  their  left  extending  into  the  valley  or  plain  so  as  to 
narrow  the  valley  to  about  one  and  a  half  miles.  On  our  left  was 
a  deep,  dry,  sandy  channel  of  a  creek,  and  between  these  points  the 
plain  rises  to  sixty  feet  abruptly.  This  rise  is  in  the  form  of  a 
crescent,  the  convex  part  being  to  the  north  of  our  forces. 

"  On  the  right,  from  the  point  of  mountains,  a  narrow  part  of  the 
plain  extends  north  one  and  a  half  miles  farther  than  on  the  left. 
The  main  road  passes  down  the  centre  of  the  valley  and  across  the 
crescent,  near  the  left  or  dry  branch.  The  Sacramento  rises  in  the 
mountains  on  the  right,  and  the  road  falls  on  to  it  about  one  mile 
below  the  battle-field  or  entrenchment  of  the  enemy.  We  ascer 
tained  that  the  enemy  had  one  battery  of  four  guns,  two  nine  and  two 
six-pounders,  on  the  point  of  the  mountain  on  our  right,  (their  left,) 
at  a  good  elevation  to  sweep  the  plain,  and  at  the  point  where  the 
mountains  extended  farthest  into  the  plain. 

"  On  our  left  (their  right)  they  had  another  battery  on  an  eleva 
tion  commanding  the  road,  and  three  entrenchments  of  two  six- 
pounders,  and  on  the  brow  of  the  crescent  near  the  centre  another 
of  two  six  and  two  four  and  six  culverins,  or  rampart  pieces,  mounted 
on  carriages ;  and  on  the  crest  of  the  hill  or  ascent  between  the 
batteries,  and  the  right  and  left,  they  had  twenty-seven  redoubts  dug 


BATTLE   OF   SACRAMENTO.  189 

and  thrown  up,  extending  at  short  intervals  across  the  whole  ground. 
In  these  their  infantry  were  placed,  and  were  entirely  protected. 
Their  cavalry  was  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  redoubts  in  the  intervals 
four  deep,  and  in  front  of  the  redoubts  two  deep,  so  as  to  mask  them 
as  far  as  practicable. 

"  When  we  had  arrived  within  one  and  a  half  miles  of  the  en 
trenchments  along  the  main  road,  we  advanced  the  cavalry  still 
farther,  and  suddenly  diverged  with  the  columns  to  the  right,  so  as 
to  gain  the  narrow  part  of  the  ascent  on  our  right,  which  the  enemy 
discovering  endeavoured  to  prevent  by  moving  forward  with  one 
thousand  cavalry  and  four  pieces  of  cannon  in  their  rear,  masked  by 
them.  Our  movements  were  so  rapid  that  we  gained  the  elevation 
with  our  forces  and  the  advance  of  our  wagons  in  time  to  form  be 
fore  they  arrived  within  reach  of  our  guns.  The  enemy  halted, 
and  we  advanced  the  head  of  our  column  within  twelve  hundred 
yards  of  them,  so  as  to  let  our  wagons  attain  the  high  lands  and 
form  as  before. 

"  We  now  commenced  the  action  by  a  brisk  fire  from  our  battery, 
and  the  enemy  unmasked  and  commenced  also ;  our  fires  proved 
effective  at  this  distance,  killing  fifteen  men,  wounding  several  more, 
and  disabling  one  of  the  enemy's  guns.  We  had  two  men  slightly 
wounded,  and  several  horses  and  mules  killed.  The  enemy  then 
slowly  retreated  behind  their  works  in  some  confusion,  and  we  re 
sumed  our  march  in  the  former  order,  still  diverging  more  to  the 
right  to  avoid  their  battery  on  our  left,  (their  right,)  and  their  strongest 
redoubts,  which  were  on  the  left  near  where  the  road  passes.  After 
marching  as  far  as  we  safely  could,  without  coming  within  range  of 
their  heavy  battery  on  our  right,  Captain  Weightman,  of  the  artil 
lery,  was  ordered  to  charge  with  the  two  twelve-pound  howitzers, 
to  be  supported  by  the  cavalry  under  Captains  Reid,  Parsons  and 
Hudson. 

"  The  howitzers  charged  at  speed,  and  were  gallantly  sustained 
by  Captain  Reid ;  but,  by  some  misunderstanding,  my  order  was 
not  given  to  the  other  two  companies.  Captain  Hudson,  anticipat 
ing  my  order,  charged  in  time  to  give  ample  support  to  the  howii, 
zers.  Captain  Parsons,  at  the  same  moment,  came  to  me  and  asked 
permission  for  his  company  to  charge  the  redoubts  immediately  to 
the  left  of  Captain  Weightman,  which  he  did  very  gallantly.  The 
remainder  of  the  two  battalions  of  the  1st  regiment  were  dismount- 


190  COLONEL   DONIPHAN. 

ed  during  the  cavalry  charge,  and  following  rapidly  on  foot,  while 
Major  Clarke  advanced  as  fast  as  practicable  with  the  remainder  of 
the  battery,  we  charged  their  redoubts  from  right  to  left,  with  a  brisk 
and  deadly  fire  of  riflemen,  while  Major  Clarke  opened  a  rapid  and 
well-directed  fire  on  a  column  of  cavalry  attempting  to  pass  to  our 
left  so  as  to  attack  the  wagons  and  our  rear. 

"  The  fire  was  so  well  directed  as  to  force  them  to  fall  back ;  and 
our  riflemen,  with  the  cavalry  and  howitzers,  cleared  the  parapets 
after  an  obstinate  resistance.  Our  forces  advanced  to  the  very 
brink  of  their  redoubts  and  attacked  the  enemy  with  their  sabres. 
When  the  redoubts  were  cleared,  and  the  batteries  in  the  centre 
and  on  our  left  were  silenced,  the  main  battery  on  our  right  still 
continued  to  pour  in  a  constant  and  heavy  fire,  as  it  had  done 
during  the  heat  of  the  engagement ;  but  as  the  whole  fate  of  the 
battle  depended  upon  carrying  the  redoubts  and  centre  battery,  this 
one  on  the  right  remained  unattacked,  and  the  enemy  had  rallied 
there  five  hundred  strong. 

"  Major  Clarke  was  directed  to  commence  a  heavy  fire  upon  it. 
Lieutenant-Colonels  Mitchell  and  Jackson,  commanding  the  1st  bat 
talion,  were  ordered  to  remount  and  charge  the  battery  on  the  left, 
while  Major  Gilpin  passed  the  2d  battalion  on  foot  up  the  rough 
ascent  of  the  mountain  on  the  opposite  side.  The  fire  of  our  battery 
was  so  effective  as  to  completely  silence  theirs,  and  the  rapid  advance 
of  our  column  put  them  to  flight  over  the  mountains  in  great  confusion. 

"  Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Sacramento.  The  force  of  the  enemy 
was  twelve  hundred  cavalry,  from  Durango  and  Chihuahua,  with 
the Vera Cruz  dragoons;  twelve  hundred  infantry  from  Chihuahua; 
three  hundred  artillerists,  and  fourteen  hundred  and  twenty  ranche- 
ros,  badly  armed  with  lassoes,  lances,  and  machetoes,  or  corn  knives ; 
ten  pieces  of  artillery,  two  nine,  two  eight,  four  six,  and  two  four- 
pounders,  and  six  culverins,  or  rampart  pieces. 

"Their  forces  were  commanded  by  Major-General  Hendea,  gene 
ral  of  Durango,  Chihuahua,  Sonora,  and  New  Mexico ;  Brigadier- 
General  Jastimani,  Brigadier-General  Garcia  Conde,  formerly  Mi 
nister  of  War  for  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  who  is  a  scientific  man, 
and  planned  this  whole  field  of  defence  ;  General  Uguerte  and  Go 
vernor  Tria,  who  acted  as  brigadier-general  on  the  field,  and  colonels 
and  other  officers  without  number. 

"  Our  force  was  nine  hundred  and  twenty-four  effective  men ;  at 


CAPTURE   OF   CHIHUAHUA.  191 

least  one  hundred  of  whom  were  engaged  in  holding  horses  and 
driving  teams. 

"  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  his  entire  artillery,  ten  wagons, 
masses  of  beans  and  pinola,  and  other  Mexican  provisions,  about 
three  hundred  killed  and  about  the  same  number  wounded,  many 
of  whom  have  since  died,  and  forty  prisoners. 

"The  field  was  literally  covered  with  the  dead  and  wounded  from 
our  artillery  and  the  unerring  fire  of  our  riflemen.  Night  put  a 
stop  to  the  carnage,  the  battle  having  commenced  about  three  o'clock. 
Our  loss  was  one  killed,  one  mortally  wounded,  and  seven  so  wound 
ed  as  to  recover  without  any  loss  of  limbs.  I  cannot  speak  too 
highly  of  the  coolness,  gallantry  and  bravery  of  the  officers  and 
men  under  my  command. 

"I  was  ably  sustained  by  field  officers  Lieutenant-Colonels 
Mitchell  and  Jackson  of  the  1st  battalion,  and  Major  Gilpin  of  the 
2d  battalion ;  and  Major  Clarke  and  his  artillery  acted  nobly,  and 
did  the  most  effective  service  in  every  part  of  the  field.  It  is  abun 
dantly  shown,  in  the  charge  made  by  Captain  Weightman,  with  the 
section  of  howitzers,  that  they  can  be  used  in  any  charge  of  cavalry 
with  great  effect.  Much  has  been  said,  and  justly  said,  of  the  gal 
lantry  of  our  artillery,  unlimbering  within  two  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  of  the  enemy  at  Palo  Alto ;  but  how  much  more  daring  was 
the  charge  of  Captain  Weightman,  when  he  unlimbered  within  fifty 
yards  of  the  redoubts  of  the  enemy. 

"  On  the  first  day  of  March  we  took  formal  possession  of  the 
capital  of  Chihuahua  in  the  name  of  our  government.  We  were 
ordered  by  General  Kearny  to  report  to  General  Wool  at  this  place  ; 
since  our  arrival,  we  hear  that  he  is  at  Saltillo,  surrounded  by  the 
enemy.  Our  present  purpose  is  either  to  force  our  way  to  him,  or 
return  by  Bexar,  as  our  term  of  service  expires  on  the  last  day  of 
May  next." 

We  annex  a  vivid  description,  by  Edwin  Bryant,  Esq.,  of  the 
desert  through  which  Doniphan  led  his  troops.  A  perusal  of  it 
will  increase  our  astonishment  at  his  remarkable  expedition. 

"  Monday,  August  3. — I  rose  from  my  bivouack  this  morning  at 
half-past  one  o'clock.  The  moon,  appearing  like  a  ball  of  fire,  and 
shining  with  a  dim  and  baleful  light,  seemed  struggling  downwards 
through  the  thick  bank  of  smoky  vapour  that  overhung  and  cur 
tained  the  high  ridge  of  mountains  to  the  west  of  us.  This  ridge, 

T 


192  COLONEL   DONIPHAN. 

stretching  as  far  to  the  north  and  the  south  as  the  eye  can  reach, 
forms  the  western  wall  (if  I  may  so  call  it)  of  the  desert  valley  we 
had  crossed  yesterday,  and  is  composed  of  rugged,  barren  peaks  of 
dark  basaltic  rock,  sometimes  exhibiting  misshapen  outlines,  at 
[others  towering  upwards,  and  displaying  a  variety  of  architectural 
forms,  representing  domes,  spires,  and  turreted  fortifications. 

"  Our  encampment  was  on  the  slope  of  the  mountain,  and  the 
valley  lay  spread  out  at  our  feet,  illumined  sufficiently  by  the  red 
glare  of  the  moon,  and  the  more  pallid  effulgence  of  the  stars,  to 
display  imperfectly  its  broken  and  frightful  barrenness  and  its  solemn 
desolation.  No  life,  except  in  the  little  oasis  occupied  by  our  camp 
and  dampened  by  the  sluggish  spring,  by  excavating  which  with 
our  hands  we  had  obtained  impure  water  sufficient  to  quench  our 
own  and  our  animals'  thirst,  existed  as  far  as  the  eye  could  penetrate 
over  mountain  and  plain.  There  was  no  voice  of  animal,  no  hum 
of  insect,  disturbing  the  tomb-like  solemnity.  All  was  silence  and 
dearth.  The  atmosphere,  chill  and  frosty,  seemed  to  sympathize 
with  this  sepulchral  stillness.  No  wailing  or  whispering  sounds 
sighed  through  the  chasms  of  the  mountains,  or  over  the  gulfy  and 
waterless  ravines  of  the  valley ;  no  rustling  zephyr  swept  over  the 
scant  dead  grass,  or  disturbed  the  crumbling  leaves  of  the  gnarled 
and  stunted  cedars,  which  seemed  to  draw  a  precarious  existence 
from  the  small  patch  of  damp  earth  surrounding  us.  Like  the  other 
elements  sustaining  animal  and  vegetable  life,  the  winds  seemed 
stagnant  and  paralyzed  by  the  universal  dearth  around.  I  contem 
plated  this  scene  of  dismal  and  oppressive  solitude  until  the  moon 
sunk  behind  the  mountain,  and  object  after  object  became  shrouded 
in  its  shadow. 

"Rousing  Mr.  Jacob,  who  slept  soundly,  and  after  him  the  other 
members  of  our  small  party,  (nine  in  number,)  we  commenced  our 
preparations  for  the  long  and  much-dreaded  march  over  the  great 
Salt  Desert.  Mr.  Hudspeth,  the  gentleman  who  had  kindly  con 
ducted  us  thus  far  from  Fort  Bridger  as  our  pilot,  was  to  leave  us 
at  this  point,  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  a  route  for  the  emigrant 
wagons  further  south.  He  was  accompanied  by  three  gentlemen, 
Messrs.  Ferguson,  Kirkwood,  and  Minter.  Consequently,  from 
this  time  forward,  we  are  without  a  guide  or  any  reliable  index  to 
our  destination,  except  our  course  westward  until  we  strike  Mary's 
river  and  the  emigrant  trail  to  California,  which  runs  parallel  with 


DESCRIPTION   OF  THE   CALIFORNIA   DESERT.      193 

it,  some  two  or  three  hundred  miles  distant.  The  march  across  the 
Salt  Plain,  without  water  or  grass,  was  variously  estimated  by  those 
with  whom  I  conversed  at  Fort  Bridger  at  from  sixty  to  eighty 
miles.  Captain  Walker,  an  old  and  experienced  mountaineer,  who 
had  crossed  it  at  this  point,  as  the  guide  of  Captain  Fremont  and 
his  party,  estimated  the  distance  at  seventy-five  miles,  and  we  found 
the  estimate  to  be  correct. 

"  We  gathered  the  dead  limbs  of  the  cedars  which  had  been  cut 
down  by  Captain  Fremont's  party  when  encamped  here  last  au 
tumn,  and  igniting  them  they  gave  us  a  good  light  during  the  pre 
paration  and  discussion  of  our  frugal  breakfast,  which  consisted  to 
day  of  bread  and  coffee — bacon  being  interdicted  in  consequence  of 
its  incitement  to  thirst,  a  sensation  which  at  this  time  we  desired  to 
avoid,  as  we  felt  uncertain  how  long  it  might  be  before  we  should 
be  able  to  gratify  the  unpleasant  craving  it  produces. 

"  Each  individual  of  the  party  busied  himself  around  the  blazing 
fires,  in  making  his  various  little  but  important  arrangements,  until 
the  first  gray  of  the  dawn  manifested  itself  above  the  vapoury  bank 
overhanging  the  eastern  ridge  of  mountains,  when,  the  word  to 
saddle  up  being  given,  the  mules  were  brought  to  the  camp-fires, 
and  every  arm  and  muscle  of  the  party  was  actively  employed  in 
the  business  of  saddling  and  packing  *  with  care' — with  unusual 
care — as  a  short  detention  during  the  day's  march,  to  readjust  the 
packs,  might  result  in  an  encampment  upon  the  desert  for  the  com 
ing  night,  and  all  its  consequent  dangers — the  death  or  loss,  by 
staying  in  search  of  water  and  grass,  of  our  mules,  (next  to  death 
to  us,)  not  taking  into  account  our  own  suffering  from  thirst,  which, 
for  the  next  eighteen  or  twenty  hours,  we  had  made  up  our  minds 
to  endure  with  philosophical  fortitude  and  resignation.  A  small 
powder-keg,  holding  about  three  or  four  pints  of  coffee,  which  had 
been  emptied  of  its  original  contents  for  the  purpose,  and  filled  with 
that  beverage  made  from  the  brackish  spring  near  our  camp,  was 
the  only  vessel  we  possessed  in  which  we  could  transport  water, 
and  its  contents  composed  our  entire  liquid  refreshment  for  the 
march.  Instructions  were  given  to  Miller,  who  had  charge  of  the 
important  and  precious  burden,  to  husband  it  with  miserly  care,  and 
to  make  an  equitable  division  whenever  it  should  be  called  into  use. 

"  Every  thing  being  ready,  Mr.  Hudspeth,  who  accompanied  us 
to  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  led  the  way.  We  passed  upwards 
17 


194  COLONEL   DONIPHAN. 

through  the  Canada,  (pronounced  kanyeada,)  or  mountain  gorge,  at 
the  mouth  of  which  we  had  encamped,  and,  by  a  comparatively  easy 
and  smooth  ascent,  reached  the  summit  of  the  mountain  after  travel 
ling  about  six  miles.  Most  of  us  were  shivering  with  cold,  until 
the  sun  shone  broadly  upon  us,  after  emerging  by  a  steep  acclivity 
from  the  gorge  through  which  we  had  passed,  to  the  top  of  the 
ridge.  Here  we  should  have  had  a  view  of  the  mountain  at  the  foot 
of  which  our  day's  journey  was  to  terminate,  but  for  the  dense 
smoke  which  hung  over  and  filled  the  plain,  shutting  from  the 
vision  all  distant  objects. 

"  Bidding  farewell  to  Mr.  Hudspeth  and  the  gentleman  with  him, 
(Mr.  Ferguson,)  we  commenced  the  descent  of  the  mountain.  We 
had  scarcely  parted  from  Mr.  Hudspeth,  when,  standing  on  one  of 
the  peaks,  he  stretched  out  his  long  arms,  and  with  a  voice  and  ges 
ture  as  loud  and  impressive  as  he  could  make  them,  he  called  to  us 
and  exclaimed, l  Now,  boys,  put  spurs  to  your  mules,  and  ride  like 
h — !'  The  hint  was  timely  given  and  well  meant,  but  scarcely 
necessary,  as  we  all  had  a  pretty  just  appreciation  of  the  trials  and 
hardships  before  us. 

"  The  descent  from  the  mountain  on  the  western  side  was  more 
difficult  than  the  ascent,  but  two  or  three  miles  by  a  winding  and 
precipitous  path,  through  some  straggling,  stunted,  and  tempest- 
bound  cedars,  brought  us  to  the  foot  and  into  the  valley,  where,  after 
some  search,  we  found  a  blind  trail,  which  we  supposed  to  be  that 
of  Captain  Fremont,  made  last  year.  Our  course  for  the  day  was 
nearly  due  west,  and  following  this  trail  where  it  was  visible  and 
did  not  deviate  from  our  course,  and  putting  our  mules  into  a  brisk 
gait,  we  crossed  a  valley  some  eight  or  ten  miles  in  width,  sparely 
covered  with  wild  sage  (artimisia)  and  grease-wood.  These  shrubs 
display  themselves  and  maintain  a  dying  existence,  a  brownish  ver 
dure,  on  the  most  arid  and  sterile  plains  and  mountains  of  the  desert, 
where  no  other  vegetation  shows  itself.  After  crossing  the  valley, 
we  rose  a  ridge  of  low  volcanic  hills,  thickly  strewn  with  sharp 
fragments  of  basaltes  and  a  vitreous  gravel,  resembling  junk-bottle 
glass.  We  passed  over  this  ridge  through  a  narrow  gap,  the  walls 
of  which  are  perpendicular,  and  composed  of  the  same  dark  material 
as  the  debris  strewn  around.  From  the  western  terminus  of  this 
ominous-looking  passage,  we  had  a  view  of  the  vast  desert  plain 
before  us,  which,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  penetrate,  was  of  a  snowy 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  DESERT.   195 

whiteness,  and  resembled  a  scene  of  wintry  frosts  and  icy  desolation. 
Not  a  shrub  or  object  of  any  kind  rose  above  the  surface  for  the  eye 
to  rest  upon.  The  hiatus  in  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms 
was  perfect.  It  was  a  scene  which  excited  mingled  emotions  of 
admiration  and  apprehension. 

"  Passing  a  little  further  on,  we  stood  on  the  brow  of  a  steep  pre 
cipice,  the  descent  from  the  ridge  of  hills,  immediately  below  and 
beyond  which  a  narrow  valley  or  depression  in  the  surface  of  the 
plain,  about  five  miles  in  width,  displayed  so  perfectly  the  wavy 
and  frothy  appearance  of  highly-agitated  water,  that  Colonel  Russell 
and  myself,  who  were  riding  together  some  distance  in  advance, 
both  simultaneously  exclaimed,  '  We  must  have  taken  a  wrong 
course  and  struck  another  arm  or  bay  of  the  great  salt  lake.'  With 
deep  concern  we  were  looking  around,  surveying  the  face  of  the 
country  to  ascertain  what  remedy  there  might  be  for  this  formidable 
obstruction  to  our  progress,  when  the  remainder  of  the  party  came 
up.  The  difficulty  was  presented  to  them ;  but  soon,  upon  a  more 
calm  and  scrutinizing  inspection,  we  discovered  that  what  repre 
sented  so  perfectly  the  *  rushing  waters,'  was  moveless  and  made 
no  sound.  The  illusion  soon  became  manifest  to  all  of  us,  and 
a  hearty  laugh  at  those  who  were  the  first  to  be  deceived  was  the 
consequence,  denying  to  them  the  merit  of  being  good  pilots  or  pio 
neers,  &c. 

"Descending  the  precipitous  elevation  upon  which  we  stood,  we 
entered  upon  the  hard,  smooth  plain  we  had  just  been  surveying 
with  so  much  doubt  and  interest,  composed  of  bluish  clay,  encrusted 
in  wavy  lines  with  a  white  saline  substance,  the  first  representing 
the  body  of  the  water  and  the  last  the  crest  and  froth  of  the  mimic 
waves  and  surges.  Beyond  this  we  crossed  what  appeared  to  have 
been  the  beds  of  several  small  lakes,  the  waters  of  which  have 
evaporated,  thickly  encrusted  with  salt,  and  separated  from  each 
other  by  small  mound-shaped  elevations  of  a  white  sandy  or  ashy 
earth,  so  imponderous  that  it  has  been  driven  by  the  action  of  the 
winds  into  these  heaps,  which  are  constantly  changing  their  positions 
and  their  shapes.  Our  mules  waded  through  these  ashy  undula 
tions,  sometimes  sinking  to  their  knees,  at  others  to  their  bellies, 
creating  a  dust  that  rose  above  and  hung  over  us  like  a 
dense  fog. 

"  From  this  point,  on  our  right  and  left,  diagonally  in  our  front, 


196  COLONEL   DONIPHAN. 

at  an  apparent  distance  of  thirty  or  forty  miles,  high  isolated  moun 
tains  rise  abruptly  from  the  surface  of  the  plain.  Those  on  our  left 
were  as  white  as  the  snow-like  face  of  the  desert,  and  may  be  of  the 
same  composition,  but  I  am  inclined  to  the  belief  that  they  are  com 
posed  of  white  clay,  or  clay  and  sand  intermingled. 

"  The  mirage,  a  beautiful  phenomenon  I  have  frequently  men 
tioned  as  exhibiting  itself  upon  our  journey,  here  displayed  its  won 
derful  illusions,  in  a  perfection  and  with  a  magnificence  surpassing 
any  presentation  of  the  kind  I  had  previously  seen.  Lakes  dotted 
with  islands  and  bordered  by  groves  of  gently-waving  timber,  whose 
tranquil  and  limpid  waves  reflected  their  sloping  banks  and  the 
shady  islets  in  their  bosoms,  lay  spread  out  before  us,  inviting  us 
by  their  illusory  temptations  to  stray  from  our  path  and  enjoy  their 
cooling  shades  and  refreshing  waters.  These  fading  away  as  we 
advanced,  beautiful  villas,  adorned  with  edifices,  decorated  with  all 
the  ornaments  of  suburban  architecture,  and  surrounded  by  gardens, 
shaded  walks,  parks,  and  stately  avenues,  would  succeed  them, 
renewing  the  alluring  invitation  to  repose,  by  enticing  the  vision 
with  more  than  calypsan  enjoyments  or  elysian  pleasures.  These 
melting  from  our  view  as  those  "before,  in  another  place  a  vast  city 
with  countless  columned  edifices  of  marble  whiteness,  and  studded 
with  domes,  spires,  and  turreted  towers,  would  rise  upon  the  hori 
zon  of  the  plain,  astonishing  us  with  its  stupendous  grandeur  and 
sublime  magnificence.  But  it  is  in  vain  to  attempt  a  description  of 
these  singular  and  extraordinary  phenomena.  Neither  prose,  nor 
poetry,  nor  the  pencil  of  the  artist,  can  adequately  portray  their 
beauties.  The  whole  distant  view  around,,  at  this  point,  seemed 
like  the  creations  of  a  sublime  and  gorgeous  dream  or  the  effect  of 
enchantment.  I  observed  that  where  these  appearances  were  pre 
sented  in  their  most  varied  forms  and  with  the  most  vivid  distinct 
ness,  the  surface  of  the  plain  was  broken,  either  by  chasms  hollowed 
out  from  the  action  of  the  winds,  or  by  undulations  formed  of  the 
drifting  sands. 

"About  eleven  o'clock  we  struck  a  vast  white  plain,  uniformly 
level,  and  utterly  destitute  of  vegetation,  or  any  sign  that  shrub  or 
plant  had  ever  existed  above  its  snow-like  surface.  Pausing  a  few 
moments  to  rest  our  mules,  and  moisten  our  mouths  and  throats  from 
the  scant  supply  of  beverage  in  our  powder-keg,  we  entered  upon 
this  appalling  field  of  sullen  and  hoary  desolation.  It  was  a  scene 


DESCRIPTION   OF   THE    CALIFORNIA   DESERT.      197 

so  entirely  new  to  us,  so  frightfully  forbidding  and  unearthly  in  its 
aspects,  that  all  of  us,  I  believe,  though  impressed  with  its  sublimity, 
felt  a  slight  shudder  of  apprehension.  Our  mules  seemed  to  sym 
pathize  with  us  in  the  pervading  sentiment,  and  moved  forward  with 
reluctance,  several  of  them  stubbornly  setting  their  faces  for  a  counter 
march. 

"  For  fifteen  miles  the  surface  of  this  plain  is  so  compact  that  the 
feet  of  our  animals,  as  we  hurried  them  along  over  it,  left  but  little 
if  any  impression  for  the  guidance  of  the  future  traveller.  It  is 
covered  with  a  hard  crust  of  saline  and  alkaline  substances  com 
bined,  from  one-fourth  to  bne-haif  of  an  inch  in  thickness,  beneath 
which  is  a  siratum  of  damp  whitish  sand  and  clay  intermingled. 
Small  fragments  of  white  shell}''  rock,  of  an  inch  and  a  half  in 
thickness,  which  appear  as  if  they  once  composed  a  crust,  but  had 
been  broken  by  the  action  of  the  atmosphere,  or  the  pressure  of 
water  rising  from  beneath,  are  strewn  over  the  entire  plain  and  em 
bedded  in  the  salt  and  sand. 

"  As  we  moved  onward,  a  member  of  our  party  in  the  rear  called 
our  attention  to  a  gigantic  moving  object  on  our  left,  at  an  apparent  dis 
tance  of  six  or  eight  miles.  It  is  very  difficult  to  determine  distances 
accurately  on  these  plains.  Your  estimate  is  based  upon  the  probable 
dimensions  of  the  object,  and  unless  you  know  what  the  object  is, 
and  its  probable  size,  you  are  liable  to  great  deception.  The  atmo 
sphere  seems  frequently  to  act  as  a  magnifier,  so  much  so  that  I  have 
often  seen  a  raven  perched  upon  a  low  shrub  or  an  undulation  of 
the  plain,  answering  to  the  outlines  of  a  man  on  horseback.  But 
this  object  was  so  enormously  large,  considering  its  apparent  dis 
tance,  and  its  movement  forward,  parallel  with  ours,  so  distinct,  that 
it  greatly  excited  our  wonder  and  curiosity.  Many  and  various 
were  the  conjectures  (serious  and  facetious)  of  the  party,  as  to  what 
it  might  be  or  portend.  Some  thought  it  might  be  Mr.  Hudspeth, 
who  had  concluded  to  follow  us ;  others  that  it  was  some  cyclopean 
nondescript  animal,  lost  upon  the  desert ;  others  that  it  was  the 
ghost  of  a  mammoth  or  megatherium  wandering  on  *  this  rendezvous 
of  death  ;'  others  that  it  was  the  d — 1  mounted  on  an  ibis,  &c.  It 
was  the  general  conclusion,  however,  that  no  animal  composed  of 
flesh  and  blood,  or  even  a  healthy  ghost,  could  here  inhabit.  A 
partner  of  equal  size  soon  joined  it,  and  for  an  hour  or  more  they 
17* 


198  COLONEL   DONIPHAN. 

moved  along  as  before,  parallel  to  us,  when  they  disappeared  appa 
rently  behind  the  horizon. 

"  As  we  proceeded  the  plain  gradually  became  softer,  and  our 
mules  sometimes  sunk  to  their  knees  in  the  stiff  composition  of  salt, 
sand,  and  clay.  The  travelling  at  length  became  so  difficult  and 
fatiguing  to  our  animals  that  several  of  the  party  dismounted,  (my 
self  among  the  number,)  and  we  consequently  slackened  our  hitherto 
brisk  pace  into  a  walk.  About  two  o'clock,  P.  M.  we  discovered 
through  the  smoky  vapour  the  dim  outlines  of  the  mountain  in  front 
of  us,  at  the  foot  of  which  was  to  terminate  our  day's  march,  if  we 
were  so  fortunate  as  to  reach  it.  But  still  we  were  a  long  and  weary 
distance  from  it,  and  from  the  *  grass  and  water'  which  we  expected 
there  to  find.  A  cloud  rose  from  the  south  soon  afterwards,  accom 
panied  by  several  distant  peals  of  thunder  and  furious  wind,  rushing 
across  the  plain,  and  filling  the  whole  atmosphere  around  us  with 
the  fine  particles  of  salt,  and  drifting  it  in  heaps  like  the  newly- 
fallen  snow.  Our  eyes  became  nearly  blinded  and  our  throats 
choked  with  the  saline  matter,  and  the  very  air  we  breathed  tasted 
of  salt. 

"  During  the  subsidence  of  this  tempest  there  appeared  upon  the 
plain  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  phenomena,  I  dare  to  assert, 
ever  witnessed.  As  I  have  before  stated,  I  had  dismounted  from  my 
mule,  and  turning  it  in  with  the  caballada,  was  walking  several  rods 
in  front  of  the  party,  in  order  to  lead  in  a  direct  course  to  the  point 
of  our  destination.  Diagonally  in  front,  to  the  right,  our  course  being 
west,  there  appeared  the  figures  of  a  number  of  men  and  horses,  some 
fifteen  or  twenty.  Some  of  these  figures  were  mounted,  and  others 
dismounted,  and  appeared  to  be  marching  in  front.  Their  faces  and 
the  heads  of  their  horses  were  turned  towards  us,  and  at  first  they 
appeared  as  if  they  were  rushing  down  upon  us.  Their  apparent 
distance,  judging  from  the  horizon,  was  from  three  to  five  miles. 
But  their  size  was  not  correspondent,  for  they  appeared  nearly  as 
large  as  our  own  bodies,  and  consequently  were  of  gigantic  stature. 
At  first  view  I  supposed  them  to  be  a  small  party  of  Indians  (pro 
bably  the  Utahs)  marching  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  plain.  But 
this  seemed  to  me  scarcely  probable,  as  no  hunting  or  war  party 
would  be  likely  to  take  this  route.  I  called  to  some  of  our  party 
nearest  to  me  to  hasten  forward,  as  there  were  men  in  front  coming 
toward  us.  Very  soon,  the  fifteen  or  twenty  figures  were  multiplied 


DESCRIPTION   OF   THE   CALIFORNIA   DESERT.       199 

into  three  or  four  hundred,  and  appeared  to  be  marching  forward 
with  the  greatest  action  and  speed.  I  then  conjectured  that  they 
might  be  Captain  Fremont  and  his  party,  with  others  from  Cali 
fornia,  returning  to  the  United  States  by  this  route,  although  they 
seemed  to  be  too  numerous  even  for  this.  I  spoke  to  Brown,  who 
was  nearest  to  me,  and  asked  him  if  he  noticed  the  figures  of  men 
and  horses  in  front.  He  answered  that  he  did,  and  that  he  had  ob 
served  the  same  appearances  several  times  previously,  but  that  they 
had  disappeared,  and  he  believed  them  to  be  optical  illusions  similar 
to  the  mirage.  It  was  then,  for  the  first  time,  so  perfect  was  the 
deception,  that  I  conjectured  the  probable  fact  that  these  figures 
were  the  reflection  of  our  own  images  by  the  atmosphere,  filled  as 
it  was  with  fine  particles  of  crystallized  matter,  or  by  the  distant 
horizon,  covered  by  the  same  substance.  This  induced  a  more  mi 
nute  observation  of  the  phenomenon,  in  order  to  detect  the  deception, 
if  such  it  were.  I  noticed  a  single  figure,  apparently  in  front  in 
advance  of  all  the  others,  and  was  struck  with  its  likeness  to  my 
self.  Its  motions  too  I  thought  were  the  same  as  mine.  To  test 
the  hypothesis  above  suggested,  I  wheeled  suddenly  around,  at  the 
same  time  stretching  my  arms  out  to  their  full  length,  and  turning 
my  face  sideways  to  notice  the  movements  of  this  figure.  It  went 
through  precisely  the  same  motions.  I  then  marched  deliberately 
and  with  long  strides  several  paces,  the  figure  did  the  same.  To 
test  it  more  thoroughly,  I  repeated  the  experiment,  and  with  the 
same  result.  The  fact  then  was  clear.  But  it  was  more  fully  ve 
rified  still,  for  the  whole  array  of  this  numerous  shadowy  host  in 
the  course  of  an  hour  melted  entirely  away  and  was  no  more  seen. 
The  phenomenon,  however,  explained  and  gave  the  history  of  the 
gigantic  spectres  which  appeared  and  disappeared  so  mysteriously 
at  an  earlier  hour  of  the  day.  The  figures  were  our  own  shadows, 
produced  and  reproduced  by  the  mirror-like  composition  impregnat 
ing  the  atmosphere  and  covering  the  plain.  I  cannot  here  more 
particularly  explain  or  refer  to  the  subject.  But  this  spectral  popu 
lation,  springing  out  of  the  ground  as  it  were,  and  arraying  itself 
before  us  as  we  traversed  this  dreary  and  Heaven-condemned  waste, 
although  we  were  entirely  convinced  of  the  cause  of  the  apparition, 
excited  those  superstitious  emotions  so  natural  to  all  mankind. 

"  About  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  we  reached  and  passed,  leaving  it  to 
our  left,  a  small  butte,  rising  solitary  from  the  plain.     Around  thh 


200  COLONEL   DONIPHAN. 

the  ground  is  uneven,  and  a  few  scattering  shrubs,  leafless  and  with 
out  verdure,  raised  themselves  above  the  white  sand  and  saline  mat 
ter,  which  seemed  recently  to  have  drifted,  so  as  nearly  to  conceal 
them.  Eight  miles  brought  us  to  the  northern  end  of  a  short  range 
of  mountains,  turning  the  point  of  which  and  bending  our  course  to 
the  left,  we  gradually  came  upon  higher  ground,  composed  of  com 
pact  volcanic  gravel.  I  was  here  considerably  in  the  rear,  having 
made  a  detour  towards  the  base  of  the  butte^  and  thence  toward  the 
centre  of  the  short  range  of  mountains  to  discover,  if  such  existed,  a 
spring  of  water.  I  saw  no  such  joyful  presentation,  nor  any  of  the 
usual  indications ;  and  when  I  reached  and  turned  the  point,  the 
whole  party  were  several  miles  ahead  of  me  and  out  of  sight.  Con 
gratulating  myself  that  I  stood  once  more  on  terra  firma,  I  urged 
my  tired  mule  forward  with  all  the  life  and  activity  that  spur  and 
whip  could  inspire  her  with,  passing  down  the  range  of  mountains 
on  my  left  some  four  or  five  miles,  and  then  rising  some  rocky  hills 
connecting  this  with  a  l6ng  and  high  range  of  mountains  on  my 
right.  The  distance  across  these  hills  is  about  seven  or  eight  miles. 
When  I  had  reached  the  most  elevated  point  of  this  ridge  the  sun 
was  setting,  and  I  saw  my  fellow  travellers  still  far  in  advance  of 
me,  entering  again  upon  a  plain  or  valley  of  salt,  some  ten  or  twelve 
miles  in  breadth.  On  the  opposite  side  of  this  valley  rose  abruptly 
and  to  a  high  elevation  another  mountain,  at  the  foot  of  which  we 
expected  to  find  the  spring  of  fresh  water  that  was  to  quench  our 
thirst,  and  revive  and  sustain  the  drooping  energies  of  our  faithful 
beasts. 

"About  midway  upwards,  in  a  Canada  of  this  mountain,  I  noticed 
the  smoke  of  a  fire,  which  apparently  had  just  been  kindled,  as 
doubtless  it  had  been,  by  Indians,  who  were  then  there,  and  had 
discovered  our  party  on  the  white  plain  below,  it  being  the  custom 
of  these  Indians  to  make  signals  by  fire  and  smoke  whenever  they 
notice  strange  objects.  Proceeding  onward,  I  overtook  an  old  and 
favourite  pack-mule,  which  was  familiarly  called  « Old  Jenny.'  She 
carried  our  meat  and  flour — all  that  we  possessed  in  fact  as  a  suste 
nance  of  life.  Her  pack  had  turned,  and  her  burden,  instead  of 
being  on  her  back,  was  suspended  under  her  belly.  With  the  good 
sense  and  discretion  so  characteristic  of  the  Mexican  pack-mule,  be 
ing  behind  and  following  the  party  in  advance,  she  had  stopped  short 
in  the  road  until  some  one  should  come  to  re-arrange  her  cargo  and 


DESCRIPTION   OF   THE   CALIFORNIA    DESERT.      201 

place  it  on  deck  instead  of  under  the  keel.  I  dismounted  and  went 
through  by  myself  the  rather  tedious  and  laborious  process  of  un 
packing  and  repacking.  This  done,  '  Old  Jenny'  set  forward  upon 
a  fast  gallop  to  overtake  her  companions  ahead ;  and  my  own  mule, 
as  if  not  to  be  outdone  in  the  race,  followed  in  the  same  gait.  *  Old 
Jenny,'  however,  maintained  the  honours  of  the  race,  keeping  con 
siderably  ahead.  Both  of  them,  by  that  instinct  or  faculty  which 
mules  undoubtedly  possess,  had  scented  the  water  on  the  other  side 
of  the  valley,  and  their  pangs  of  extreme  thirst  urged  them  forward 
at  this  extraordinary  speed,  after  the  long  and  laborious  march  they 
had  made  to  obtain  it. 

"As  I  advanced  over  the  plain,  which  was  covered  with  a  thicker 
crust  of  salt  than  that  previously  described,  breaking  under  the  feet 
of  the  animals  like  a  crust  of  frozen  snow,  the  spreading  of  the  fires 
in  the  Canada  of  the  mountain  appeared  with  great  distinctness. 
The  line  of  lights  was  regular  like  camp-fires,  and  I  was  more  than 
half  inclined  to  hope  that  we  should  meet  and  be  welcomed  by  an 
encampment  of  civilized  men,  either  hunters  or  a  party  from  the 
Pacific  bound  homeward.  The  moon  rose  about  nine  o'clock,  dis 
playing  and  illuminating  the  unnatural,  unearthly  dreariness  of  the 
scenery. 

" '  Old  Jenny'  for  some  time  had  so  far  beat  me  in  the  race  as  to 
be  out  of  my  sight  and  I  out  of  the  sound  of  her  footsteps.  I  was 
entirely  alone,  and  enjoying,  as  well  as  a  man  could  with  a  crust 
of  salt  in  his  nostrils  and  over  his  lips,  and  a  husky  mouth  and 
throat,  the  singularity  of  rny  situation,  when  I  observed  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  ahead  of  me  a  dark  stationary  object,  standing  in 
the  midst  of  the  hoary  scenery.  I  supposed  it  to  be  'Old  Jenny,' 
in  trouble  once  more  about  her  pack.  But,  coming  up  to  a  speaking 
distance,  I  was  challenged  in  a  loud  voice  with  the  usual  guard 
salutation,  'Who  comes  there?'  Having  no  countersign,  I  gave  the 
common  response  in  such  cases,  '  A  friend.'  This  appeared  to  be 
satisfactory ;  for  I  heard  no  report  of  pistol  or  rifle,  and  no  arrow 
took  its  soundless  flight  through  my  body.  I  rode  up  to  the  object, 
and  discovered  it  to  be  Buchanan  sitting  upon  his  mule,  which  had 
become  so  much  exhausted  that  it  occasionally  refused  to  go  along, 
notwithstanding  his  industrious  application  of  the  usual  incentives 
to  progress.  He  said  that  he  had  supposed  himself  to  be  the  '  last 
man'  before  '  Old  Jenny'  passed,  who  had  given  him  a  surprise,  and 


202  COLONEL    DONIPHAN. 

he  was  quite  thunderstruck  when  an  animal,  mounted  by  a  man, 
came  charging  upon  him  in  his  half-crippled  condition.  After  a 
good  laugh  and  some  little  delay  and  difficulty,  we  got  his  mule 
under  way  again  and  rode  slowly  along  together. 

"  We  left,  to  us,  in  our  tired  condition,  the  seemingly  interminable 
plain  of  salt,  and  entered  upon  the  sagey  slope  of  the  mountain 
about  ten  o'clock.  Hallooing  as  loudly  as  we  could  raise  our  voices, 
we  obtained  by  a  response  the  direction  of  our  party  who  had  pre 
ceded  us,  and,  after  some  difficulty  in  making  our  way  through  the 
sage,  grass,  and  willows,  (the  last  a  certain  indication  of  water  in 
the  desert,)  we  came  to  where  they  had  discovered  a  faint  stream 
of  water,  and  made  their  camp.  Men  and  mules,  on  their  first  ar 
rival,  as  we  learned,  had  madly  rushed  into  the  stream  and  drank 
together  of  its  muddy  waters,  made  muddy  by  their  own  disturb 
ance  of  its  shallow  channel  and  sluggish  current. 

"  Delay  of  gratification  frequently  gives  a  temporary  relief  to  the 
cravings  of  hunger.  The  same  remark  is  applicable  to  thirst.  Some 
hours  previously  I  had  felt  the  pangs  of  thirst  with  an  acuteness 
almost  amounting  to  an  agony.  Now,  when  I  had  reached  the  spot 
where  1  could  gratify  my  desires  in  this  respect,  they  were  greatly 
diminished.  My  first  care  was  to  unsaddle  my  mule  and  lead  it  to 
the  stream,  and  my  next  to  take  a  survey  of  the  position  of  our  en 
campment.  I  then  procured  a  cup  of  muddy  water  and  drank  it 
off  with  a  good  relish.  The  fires  before  noticed  were  still  blazing 
brightly  above  us  on  the  side  of  the  mountain,  but  those  who  had 
lighted  them  had  given  no  other  signal  of  their  proximity.  The 
moon  shone  brilliantly,  and  Jacob,  Buchanan,  McClary,  and  my 
self,  concluded  we  would  trace  the  small  stream  of  water  until  we 
could  find  the  fountain  spring.  After  considerable  search  among 
the  reeds,  willow,  and  luxuriant  green,  we  discovered  a  spring. 
Buchannan  was  so  eager  to  obtain  a  draught  of  cold  pure  water, 
that  in  dipping  his  cup  for  this  purpose  the  yielding  weeds  under 
him  gave  way,  and  he  sunk  into  the  basin,  from  which  he  was 
drawn  out  after  a  good  « ducking'  by  one  of  those  present.  The 
next  morning  this  basin  was  sounded  to  the  depth  of  thirty-five  feet, 
and  no  bottom  found.  We  named  this  spring  'Buchanan's  Well.' 
We  lighted  no  fires  to-night,  and  prepared  no  evening  meal.  Worn 
down  by  the  hard  day's  travel,  after  relieving  our  thirst,  we  spread 
our  blankets  upon  the  ground,  and,  laying  our  bodies  upon  them. 


DONIPHAN'S  PERSONAL  APPEARANCE.          203 

slept  soundly  in  the  bright  moonshine.  Several  of  our  party  had 
been  on  the  road  upwards  of  seventeen  hours,  without  water  or  re 
freshment  of  any  kind,  except  a  small  draught  of  cold  coffee  from 
our  powder-keg,  made  of  the  salt-sulphur  water  at  our  last  encamp 
ment,  and  had  travelled  the  distance  of  seventy-five  miles.  The  Salt 
Plain  has  never  at  this  place,  so  far  as  I  could  understand,  been 
crossed  but  twice  previously  by  civilized  men,  and  in  these  instances 
two  days  were  occupied  in  performing  the  journey." 

"  Colonel  Doniphan,"  says  a  volunteer  who  accompanied  him  in 
the  march,  "  is  in  age  about  forty,  and  in  stature,  six  feet  two  inches, 
of  large  frame,  and  with  a  very  intelligent  face.  His  great  charm  lies 
in  his  easy  and  kind  manner.  On  the  march  he  could  not  be  dis 
tinguished  from  the  other  soldiers,  either  by  dress  or  from  his  con 
versation.  He  ranked  high  as  a  lawyer  in  Missouri." 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  FREMONT. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  JOHN  C.  FREMONT  is  a  native  of  South 
Carolina.  He  served  as  first  assistant  to  the  celebrated  Nicollet,  and 
was  appointed  to  the  United  States'  army  as  second  lieutenant  topo 
graphical  engineers,  July  7th,  1838,  and  in  that  capacity  has  several 
times  conducted  expeditions  across  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Pa 
cific.  By  the  instrumentality  of  his  father-in-law,  Hon.  Thomas 
H.  Benton,  he  has  lately  [May  27th,  1840]  been  appointed  to  his 
present  station. 

In  May,  1845,  Fremont  received  orders  from  the  War  Department 
at  Washington,  to  pursue  his  explorations  in  the  regions  beyond  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  His  force  amounted  to  sixty-two  men.  One 
of  the  objects  contemplated,  was  the  discovery  of  a  new  and  shorter 
route  from  the  western  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Columbia  river.  To  accomplish  this  it  was  necessary  to 
journey,  for  a  part  of  the  distance,  through  the  unsettled  portions 
of  California,  and  a  small  tract  of  the  inhabited  region.  He  ap 
proached  these  settlements  in  the  winter  of  1845-6,  and  halting  his 
command  on  the  frontier,  one  hundred  miles  from  Monterey,  he 
proceeded  alone  to  that  city,  to  explain  the  object  of  his  coming,  and 
obtain  permission  to  enter  the  valley  of  the  San  Joaquin.  This  was 
granted,  but  scarcely  had  he  reached  the  desired  spot,  than  he  re 
ceived  authentic  information,  that  the  Mexican  general,  Castro,  was 
preparing  to  attack  him  with  a  large  force  of  artillery,  cavalry  and 
infantry,  supposing  that,  under  cover  of  a  scientific  mission,  Fre 
mont  was  exciting  the  American  settlers  to  revolt.  The  captain  did 
not  retreat ;  but  taking  a  position  on  a  mountain  overlooking  Mon 
terey  at  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles,  he  entrenched  it,  raised  the 
(304) 


COLONEL  FREMONT. 


Page  201. 


OPERATIONS   IN    CALIFORNIA.  205 

flag  of  the  United  States,  and  with  his  men  awaited  the  approach 
of  the  enemy. 

From  the  7th  to  the  10th  of  March,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fre 
mont  and  his  little  band  maintained  this  position.  General  Castro 
did  not  approach  within  attacking  distance,  and  Captain  Fremont, 
adhering  to  his  plan  of  avoiding  all  collisions,  and  determined  neither 
to  compromit  his  government,  nor  the  American  settlers,  ready  to 
join  him  at  all  hazards  if  he  had  been  attacked,  abandoned  his  po 
sition,  and  commenced  his  march  for  Oregon,  intending  by  that  route 
to  return  to  the  United  States.  Deeming  all  danger  from  the  Mexi 
cans  to  be  passed,  he  yield-ed  to  the  wishes  of  some  of  his  men  who 
desired  to  remain  in  the  country,  discharged  them  from  his  service, 
and  refused  to  receive  others  in  their  stead,  so  cautious  was  he  to 
avoid  doing  any  thing  which  would  compromit  the  American  set 
tlers,  or  give  even  a  colour  of  offence  to  the  Mexican  authorities. 
He  pursued  his  march  slowly  and  leisurely,  as  the  state  of  his  men 
and  horses  required,  until  the  middle  of  May,  and  had  reached  the 
northern  shore  of  the  greater  Tlamath  lake,  within  the  limits  of  the 
Oregon  Territory,  when  he  found  his  further  progress  in  that  direc 
tion  obstructed  by  impassable  snowy  mountains  and  hostile  Indians, 
who  had  been  excited  against  him  by  General  Castro,  had  killed  and 
wounded  four  of  his  men,  and  left  him  no  repose  either  in  camp  or 
on  his  march.  At  the  same  time,  information  reached  him  that 
General  Castro,  in  addition  to  his  Indian  allies,  was  advancing  in 
person  against  him,  with  artillery  and  cavalry,  at  the  head  of  four 
or  five  hundred  men ;  that  they  were  passing  around  the  head  of 
the  Bay  of  San  Francisco  to  a  rendezvous  on  the  north  side  of  it, 
and  that  the  American  settlers  in  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento  were 
comprehended  in  the  scheme  of  destruction  meditated  against  his 
own  party.  Under  these  circumstances,  he  determined  to  turn  upon 
his  Mexican  pursuers,  and  seek  safety  both  for  his  own  party,  and 
the  American  settlers,  not  merely  in  the  defeat  of  Castro,  but  in  the 
total  overthrow  of  the  Mexican  authority  in  California,  and  the  es 
tablishment  of  an  independent  government  in  that  extensive  depart 
ment.  It  was  on  the  6th  of  June,  and  before  the  commencement 
of  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico  could  have  been 
known,  that  this  resolution  was  taken  ;  and,  by  the  5th  of  July,  it 
was  carried  into  effect  by  a  series  of  rapid  attacks  by  a  small  body 
of  adventurous  men,  under  the  conduct  of  an  intrepid  leader,  quick 
18  u2 


206  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL   FREMONT. 

to  perceive  and  able  to  direct  the  proper  measures  for  accomplish 
ing  such  a  daring  enterprise.  On  the  llth  of  June,  a  convoy  of 
two  hundred  horses  for  Castro's  camp,  with  an  officer  and  fourteen 
men,  were  surprised  and  captured  by  twelve  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fremont's  party.  On  the  15th,  at  daybreak,  the  military  post  of 
Sonoma  was  surprised  and  taken,  with  nine  brass  cannon,  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  stands  of  muskets,  and  several  officers,  and  some  men 
and  munitions  of  war.  Leaving  a  small  garrison  in  Sonoma,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Fremont  went  to  the  Sacramento  to  arouse  the  Ame 
rican  settlers :  but  scarcely  had  he  arrived  there,  when  an  express 
reached  him  from  the  garrison  of  Sonoma,  with  information  that 
Castro's  whole  force  was  crossing  the  bay  to  attack  that  place.  This 
intelligence  was  received  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  of  June,  while 
he  was  on  the  American  fork  of  the  Sacramento,  eighty  miles  from 
the  little  garrison  at  Sonoma ;  and,  at  two  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  the  25th,  he  arrived  at  that  place  with  ninety  riflemen  from  the 
American  settlers  in  that  valley.  The  enemy  had  not  yet  appeared. 
Scouts  were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  and  a  party  of  twenty  fell  in 
with  a  squadron  of  seventy  dragoons,  (all  of  Castro's  force  which 
had  crossed  the  bay,)  attacked  and  defeated  it,  killing  and  wounding 
five,  without  harm  to  themselves ;  the  Mexican  commander,  De  la 
Torre,  barely  escaping  with  the  loss  of  his  transport  boats,  and  nine 
pieces  of  brass  artillery,  spiked. 

The  country  north  of  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco  being  cleared 
of  the  enemy,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  returned  to  Sonoma  on 
the  evening  of  the  4th  of  July,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  5th, 
called  the  people  together,  explained  to  them  the  condition  of  things 
in  the  province,  and  recommended  an  immediate  declaration  of  in 
dependence.  The  declaration  was  made,  and  he  was  selected  to 
take  the  chief  direction  of  affairs.  The  attack  on  Castro  was  the 
next  object.  He  was  at  Santa  Clara,  an  intrenched  post  on  the 
upper  or  south  side  of  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  with  four  hundred 
men  and  two  pieces  of  field-artillery.  A  circuit  of  more  than  one 
hundred  miles  must  be  traversed  to  reach  him.  On  the  6th  of  July 
the  pursuit  was  commenced,  by  a  body  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
mounted  riflemen,  commanded  by  Colonel  Fremont  in  person,  who, 
in  three  days,  arrived  at  the  American  settlements  on  the  Rio  de  los 
Americanos.  Here  he  learnt  that  Castro  had  abandoned  Santa  Clara, 
and  was  retreating  south,  towards  Ciudad  de  los  Angelos,  the  seat 


LETTER  TO  THE  ADJUTANT-GENERAL.     207 

of  the  governor-general  of  the  Californias,  and  distant  four  hundred 
miles.  It  was  instantly  resolved  to  pursue  him  to  that  place.  At 
the  moment  of  departure,  the  gratifying  intelligence  was  received 
that  war  with  Mexico  had  commenced  ;  that  Monterey  had  been 
taken  by  our  naval  forces,  and  the  flag  of  the  United  States  there 
raised  on  the  7th  of  July ;  and  that  the  fleet  would  co-operate  with 
the  army  against  Castro  and  his  forces.  The  flag  of  independence 
was  hauled  down,  and  that  of  the  United  States  hoisted  amidst  the 
hearty  greetings,  and  to  the  great  joy  of  the  American  settlers  and 
forces  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont. 

The  combined  pursuit  was  rapidly  continued ;  and  on  the  12th 
of  August,  Commodore  Stockton  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont, 
with  a  detachment  of  marines  from  the  squadron,  and  some  rifle 
men,  entered  the  City  of  the  Angels  without  resistance ;  the  go 
vernor-general,  Pico,  the  commandant-general,  Castro,  and  all  of 
the  Mexican  authorities,  having  fled  and  dispersed.  Commodore 
Stockton  took  possession  of  the  whole  country  as  a  conquest  of  the 
United  States,  and  appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  governor, 
under  the  law  of  nations ;  to  assume  the  functions  of  that  office 
when  he  should  return  to  the  squadron. 

Unfortunately,  Colonel  Fremont  became  involved  in  the  dispute 
between  Commodore  Stockton  and  General  Kearny,  concerning  the 
supreme  command  of  the  conquered  territories.  As  he  had  served 
under  the  Commodore  previous  to  this  affair,  he  still  continued  to  do 
so,  in  violation  of  the  commission  from  the  President  held  by  General 
Kearny.  For  awhile  the  latter  submitted;  but  on  the  arrival  of  re 
inforcements  he  assumed  the  chief  command,  arrested  Fremont,  and 
sent  him  as  a  prisoner  to  Washington.  On  his  arrival  he  addressed 
the  following  letter  [dated  September  17th,  1847]  to  the  adjutant- 
general  :— 

"  To  the  Adjutant-General: — SIR:  According  to  the  orders  of 
Brigadier-General  Kearny,  I  have  the  honour  to  report  myself  to 
you  in  person,  in  a  state  of  arrest,  and  to  make  the  following 
requests : 

"  1.  A  copy  of  the  charges  filed  against  me  by  the  said  general. 

"  2.  A  copy  of  the  orders  under  which  the  said  general  brought 
back  from  California  to  the  United  States  myself  and  the  topogra 
phical  party  of  which  I  formerly  had  the  command. 

«« 3.  A  copy  of  the  communication  from  Senator  Benton,  asking 


208  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL   FREMONT. 

for  my  arrest  and  trial  on  the  charges  made  in  the  newspapers 
against  me,  and  which  application  from  him  I  adopt  and  make  my 
own. 

"4.  That  charges  and  specifications,  in  addition  to  those  filed  hy 
General  Kearny,  be  made  out  in  form  against  me,  on  all  the  news 
paper  publications  which  have  come,  or  shall  come  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  office,  and  on  all  other  information,  oral  or  written. 

"  5.  That  I  may  have  a  trial  as  soon  as  the  witnesses  now  in  the 
United  States  can  be  got  to  Washington ;  for,  although  the  testi 
mony  of  the  voice  of  California,  through  some  of  its  most  respectable 
inhabitants,  is  essential  to  me,  and  also  that  of  Commodore  Stockton, 
who  has  not  yet  arrived  from  that  province,  yet  I  will  not  wish  the 
delay  of  waiting  for  these  far-distant  witnesses,  and  will  go  into  trial 
on  the  testimony  now  in  the  United  States — part  of  which  is  in  the 
state  of  Missouri,  and  may  require  thirty  days  to  get  it  to  Washing 
ton.  I  therefore  ask  for  a  trial  at  the  end  of  that  time. 

"  These  requests  I  have  the  honour  to  make,  and  hope  they  will 
be  found  to  be  just,  and  will  be  granted.  I  wish  a  full  trial,  and  a 
speedy  one.  The  charges  against  me  by  Brigadier-General  Kearny» 
and  the  subsidiary  accusations  made  against  me  in  newspapers, 
when  I  was  not  in  this  country,  impeach  me  in  all  the  departments 
of  my  conduct  (military,  civil,  political,  and  moral)  while  in  Cali 
fornia,  and,  if  true,  would  subject  me  to  be  cashiered  and  shot  under 
the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  and  to  infamy  in  the  public  opinion. 
It  is  my  intention  to  meet  these  charges  and  accusations  in  all  their 
extent ;  and  for  that  purpose  to  ask  a  trial  upon  every  point  of  alle 
gation  or  insinuation  against  me,  waiving  all  objections  to  forms 
and  technicalities,  and  allowing  the  widest  range  to  all  possible  tes 
timony.  These  charges  and  accusations  are  so  general  and  exten 
sive  as  to  cover  the  whole  field  of  my  operations  in  California,  both 
civil  and  military,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  hostilities,  and 
as  my  operations,  and  those  of  which  I  was  the  subject  or  object, 
extend  to  almost  every  act  and  event  which  occurred  in  the  country 
during  the  eventful  period  of  those  hostilities,  the  testimony  on  my 
trial  will  be  the  history  of  the  conquest  of  California,  and  the  expo 
sition  of  the  policy  which  has  been  heretofore  pursued  there,  and 
the  elucidation  of  that  which  should  be  followed  hereafter.  It  will 
oe  the  means  of  giving  valuable  information  to  the  government, 
which  it  might  not  otherwise  be  able  to  obtain,  and  thus  enlighten  it 


LETTER   TO   THE   ADJUTANT-GENERAL.  209 

both  with  respect  to  the  past  and  the  future.  Being  a  military 
subordinate,  I  can  make  no  report,  not  even  of  my  own  operations ; 
but  my  trial  may  become  a  report,  and  bring  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  government  what  it  ought  to  know,  not  only  with  respect  to  the 
conduct  of  its  officers,  but  also  in  regard  to  the  policy  observed,  or 
necessary  to  be  observed,  with  regard  to  the  three-fold  population 
(Spanish-Americans,  Anglo-Americans,  and  aboriginal  Americans) 
which  that  remote  province  contains.  Viewed  under  these  aspects 
of  public  interest,  my  own  personal  concern  in  the  trial  —  already 
sufficiently  grave — acquires  an  additional  and  public  importance  ; 
and  for  these  high  objects,  as  well  as  to  vindicate  my  own  character 
from  accusations  both  capital  and  infamous,  it  is  my  intention  to  re 
quire  and  to  promote  the  most  searching  examination  into  every 
thing  that  has  been  done  in  that  quarter. 

"  The  public  mind  has  become  impressed  with  the  belief  that 
great  misconduct  has  prevailed  in  California  ;  and,  in  fact,  it  would 
be  something  rare  in  the  history  of  remote  conquests  and  govern 
ments,  where  every  petty  commander  might  feel  himself  invested 
with  proconsular  authority,  and  protected  by  distance  from  the  su 
pervision  of  his  government,  if  nothing  wrong  or  culpable  has  been 
done  by  the  public  agents  of  the  United  States  in  that  remote  pro 
vince.  The  public  believe  it ;  and  the  charges  filed  against  me 
by  Brigadier-General  Kearny  —  the  subsidiary  publications  made 
against  me  whilst  I  was  not  in  this  country — my  arrest  on  the  fron 
tier,  and  the  premonitory  rumours  of  that  event — the  manner  of  my 
being  brought  home  for  trial,  not  in  irons,  as  some  newspapers  sup 
pose,  but  in  chains  stronger  than  iron,  and  with  circumstances  of 
ostentatious  and  galling  degradation  —  have  all  combined  to  present 
me  as  the  great  malefactor,  and  the  sole  one. 

"  Heretofore  I  have  said  nothing,  and  could  have  said  nothing,  in 
my  own  defence.  I  was  ignorant  of  all  that  was  going  on  against 
me  ;  ignorant  of  the  charges  sent  from  California ;  ignorant  of  the 
intended  arrest,  and  of  the  subsidiary  publications  to  prejudice  the 
public  mind.  What  was  published  in  the  United  States  in  my 
favour,  by  my  friends,  was  done  upon  their  own  view  of  things  here, 
and  of  which  I  knew  nothing.  It  was  only  on  my  arrival  at  the 
frontiers  of  the  United  States  that  I  became  acquainted  with  these 
things,  which  concerned  me  so  nearly.  Brought  home  by  General 
Kearny,  and  marched  in  his  rear,  I  did  not  know  of  his  design  to 
18* 


210  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL   FREMONT. 

arrest  me  until  the  moment  of  its  execution  at  Fort  Leavenworth.  He 
then  informed  me  that,  among  the  charges  which  he  had  preferred, 
were  mutiny,  disobedience  of  orders,  assumption  of  powers,  &c. ; 
and  referred  me  to  your  office  for  particulars.  Accordingly,  I  now 
apply  for  them,  and  ask  for  a  full  and  speedy  trial,  not  only  on  the 
charges  filed  by  the  said  general,  but  on  all  accusations  contained  in 
the  publications  against  me. 

"  The  private  calamity  [the  severe  illness  of  his  mother]  which 
has  this  evening  obtained  for  me  permission  from  the  department  to 
visit  South  Carolina,  does  not  create  any  reason  for  postponement  or 
delay  of  the  trial,  or  in  any  way  interfere  with  the  necessary  preli 
minaries. 

"  Hoping,  then,  sir,  that  you  will  obtain  and  communicate  to  me 
an  early  decision  of  the  proper  authorities  on  these  requests,  I 
remain,  &c." 

In  conformity  with  the  desire  of  Colonel  Fremont,  his  trial  com 
menced  soon  after  his  arrival  at  the  capital,  and  is  still  [January, 
1848]  progressing. 

The  following  account  of  the  Colonel's  celebrated  ride  in  Cali 
fornia,  will  exhibit  his  capability  of  enduring  fatigue  and  hardships :— - 

"  It  was  at  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  March,  that 
the  party  set  out  from  la  Ciudad  de  los  Angelos  (the  City  of  the 
Angels,)  in  the  southern  part  of  California,  to  proceed  in  the  shortest 
time  to  Monterey,  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  distant  full  four  hundred 
miles.  The  way  is  over  a  mountainous  country,  much  of  it  unin 
habited,  with  no  other  road  than  a  trace,  and  many  defiles  to  pass, 
particularly  the  maritime  defile  of  El  Rincon,  or  Punto  Gordo,  fifteen 
miles  in  extent,  made  by  the  jutting  of  a  precipitous  mountain  into 
the  sea,  which  can  only  be  passed  when  the  tide  is  out  and  the  sea 
calm,  and  even  then  in  many  places  through  the  waves.  The  towns 
of  Santa  Barbara  and  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  occasional  ranchos, 
are  the  principal  inhabited  places  on  the  route.  Each  of  the  party 
had  three  horses,  nine  in  all,  to  take  their  turns  under  the  saddle. 
The  six  loose  horses  ran  ahead,  without  bridle  or  halter,  and  required 
some  attention  to  keep  to  the  track. 

"  When  wanted  for  a  change,  say  at  distances  of  twenty  miles, 
they  were  caught  by  the  lasso,  thrown  either  by  Don  Jesus  Pico, 
or  the  servant  Jacob,  who,  though  born  and  raised  in  Washington, 
in  his  long  expeditions  with  Colonel  Fremont  had  become  as  ex- 


FREMONT'S  CELEBRATED  RIDE.  211 

pert  as  a  Mexican  with  the  lasso,  as  sure  as  a  mountaineer  with  the 
rifle,  equal  to  either  on  horse  or  foot,  and  always  a  lad  of  courage 
and  fidelity.  None  of  the  horses  were  shod,  that  being  a  practice 
unknown  to  the  Californians.  The  most  usual  gait  was  a  sweeping 
gallop.  The  first  day  they  ran  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles, 
passing  the  San  Fernando  mountain,  the  defile  of  the  Rincon,  se 
veral  other  mountains,  and  slept  at  the  hospitable  rancho  of  Don 
Tomas  Robberis,  beyond  the  town  of  Santa  Barbara.  The  only 
fatigue  complained  of  in  this  day's  ride  was  in  Jacob's  right  arm, 
made  tired  by  throwing  the  lasso  and  using  it  as  a  whip  to  keep 
the  loose  horses  to  the  track. 

"  The  next  day  they  made  another  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
miles,  passing  the  formidable  mountain  of  Santa  Barbara,  and  count 
ing  upon  it  the  skeletons  of  some  fifty  horses,  part  of  near  double 
that  number  which  perished  in  the  crossing  of  that  terrible  moun 
tain  by  the  California  battalion  on  Christmas  day,  1846,  amidst  a 
raging  tempest,  and  a  deluge  of  rain  and  cold  more  killing  than  that 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada — the  day  of  severest  suffering,  say  Fremont 
and  his  men,  that  they  have  ever  passed.  At  sunset,  the  party 
stopped  to  sup  with  the  friendly  Captain  Dana,  and  at  nine  San 
Luis  Obispo  was  reached,  the  home  of  Don  Jesus,  where  an  affect 
ing  reception  awaited  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  in  consequence 
of  an  incident  which  occurred  there,  that  history  will  one  day  re 
cord  ;*  and  he  was  detained  till  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  re- 

*  This  affecting  incident  is  thus  related  by  Lieutenant  Talbott,  who  ac 
companied  Colonel  Fremont.  Pico  had  headed  an  insurrection,  and  being 
captured  was  condemned  to  death  : — 

"  There  was  no  time  to  lose ;  the  hour  of  twelve,  next  day,  was  fixed 
for  the  execution.  It  was  eleven  o'clock,  and  I  chanced  to  be  in  the 
Colonel's  room,  when  a  lady  with  a  group  of  children,  followed  by  many 
other  ladies,  burst  into  the  room,  throwing  themselves  upon  their  knees, 
arid  crying  for  mercy  for  the  father  and  husband.  It  was  the  wife  and 
children  and  friends  of  Pico.  Never  did  I  hear  such  accents  of  grief. 
Never  did  I  witness  such  an  agonizing  scene.  I  turned  my  eye,  for  I  could 
not  look  at  it,  and  soon  heard  from  Colonel  Fremont  (whose  heart  was 
never  formed  to  resist  such  a  scene,)  the  heavenly  word  of  pardon. 

"  Then  the  tumult  of  feeling  took  a  different  turn.  Joy  and  gratitude 
broke  out,  filled  the  room  with  benedictions,  and  spread  to  those  without. 
To  finish  the  scene,  the  condemned  man  was  brought  in,  and  then  I  saw 
the  whole  impulsiveness  and  fire  of  the  Spanish  character,  when  excited 


212  LIEUTKN  ANT-COLONEL   FREMONT. 

ceiving  the  visits  of  the  inhabitants,  (mothers  and  children  included,) 
taking  a  breakfast  of  honour,  and  waiting  for  a  relief  of  fresh  horses 
to  be  brought  in  from  the  surrounding  country. 

"Here  the  nine  horses  from  Los  Angelos  were  left,  and  eight 
others  taken  in  their  place,  and  a  Spanish  boy  added  to  the  party  to 
assist  in  managing  the  loose  horses.  Proceeding  at  the  usual  gait 
till  eight  at  night,  and  having  made  some  seventy  miles,  Don  Jesus, 
who  had  spent  the  night  before  with  his  family  and  friends,  and 
probably  with  but  little  sleep,  became  fatigued,  and  proposed  a  halt 
for  a  few  hours.  It  was  in  the  valley  of  the  Salinas,  (Salt  river, 
called  Buena  Ventura  in  the  old  maps,)  and  the  haunt  of  marauding 
Indians.  For  safety  during  their  repose,  the  party  turned  off  the 
trace,  issued  through  a  Canada  into  a  thick  wood,  and  lay  down,  the 
horses  being  put  to  grass  at  a  short  distance,  with  the  Spanish  boy 
in  the  saddle  to  watch.  Sleep,  when  commenced,  was  too  sweet  to 
be  easily  given  up,  and  it  was  half  way  between  midnight  and  day 
when  the  sleepers  were  aroused  by  an  estampedo  among  the  horses 
and  the  calls  of  the  boy. 

"  The  cause  of  the  alarm  was  soon  found  ;  not  Indians,  but  white 
bears — this  valley  being  their  great  resort — encountered  some  hun 
dred  of  them  before,  killing  thirteen  upon  the  ground.  The  cha 
racter  of  these  bears  is  well  known,  and  the  bravest  hunters  do  not 
like  to  meet  them  without  the  advantage  of  numbers.  On  discover 
ing  the  enemy  Colonel  Fremont  felt  for  his  pistols,  but  Don  Jesus 
desired  him  to  lay  still,  saying  that « people  could  scare  bears,'  and 
immediately  he  hallooed  at  them  in  Spanish,  and  they  went  off. 

by  some  powerful  emotion.  He  had  been  calm,  composed,  quiet,  and  al 
most  silent,  under  his  trial  and  condemnation,  but  at  the  word  pardon,  a 
storm  of  impetuous  feeling  burst  forth,  and  throwing  himself  at  the  feet 
of  Colonel  Fremont,  he  swore  to  him  eternal  fidelity,  and  demanded  the 
privilege  of  going  with  him  and  dying  for  him. 

"  But  it  was  not  all  over  yet  with  Colonel  Fremont.  His  own  men  re 
quired  the  death  of  Pico — he  had  done  so  much  harm,  and  in  fact  was 
the  head  of  the  insurrection  in  that  district,  and  had  broken  his  parole 
The  Colonel  went  among  them,  and  calmed  the  ferment  in  his  own  camp. 
He  quieted  his  own  men ;  but  others,  who  were  not  there,  have  since 
cried  out  for  the  execution  of  Pico,  and  made  his  pardon  an  accusation 
against  Colonel  Fremont.  The  pacified  state  of  the  country  will  answer 
the  accusation,  and  show  that  it  was  a  case  in  which  policy  and  humanity 
went  together." 


FREMONT'S  CELEBRATED  RIDE.  213 

b*.tiki  went  off  also  ;  and  the  recovery  of  the  horses  frightened  by 
the  bears,  building  a  rousing  fire,  making  breakfast  from  the  hospi 
table  supplies  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  occupied  the  party  till  daybreak, 
when  the  journey  was  resumed.  Eighty  rniles  and  the  afternoon 
brought  the  party  to  Monterey. 

"  The  next  day,  in  the  afternoon,  the  party  set  out  on  their  return  ; 
and  the  two  horses  ridden  by  Colonel  Fremont  from  San  Luis  Obispo 
being  a  present  to  him  from  Don  Jesus,  he  (Don  Jesus)  desired  to 
make  an  experiment  of  what  one  of  them  could  do.  They  were 
brothers,  one  a  grass  younger  than  the  other,  both  of  the  same  colour, 
(cinnamon,)  and  hence  called  el  canalo  or  los  canalos,  (the  cinna 
mon,  or  the  cinnamons.)  The  elder  brother  was  taken  for  the  trial ; 
and  the  journey  commenced  upon  him  at  leaving  Monterey ;  the 
afternoon  well  advanced.  Thirty  miles  under  the  saddle  done  that 
evening,  and  the  party  stopped  for  the  night.  In  the  morning,  the 
elder  canalo  was  again  under  the  saddle  for  Colonel  Fremont,  and 
for  ninety  miles  he  carried  him  without  a  change  and  without  ap 
parent  fatigue.  It  was  still  thirty  miles  to  San  Luis  Obispo,  where 
the  night  was  to  be  passed;  and  Don  Jesus  insisted  that  canalo 
could  easily  do  it,  and  so  said  the  horse  by  his  looks  and  action. 
But  Colonel  Fremont  would  not  put  him  to  the  trial ;  and  shifting 
the  saddle  to  the  younger  brother,  the  elder  was  turned  loose  to  run 
the  remaining  thirty  miles  without  a  rider. 

"He  did  so,  immediately  taking  the  lead  and  keeping  it  all  the 
way,  and  entering  San  Luis  in  a  sweeping  gallop,  nostrils  distended, 
snuffing  the  air,  neighing  with  exultation  of  his  return  to  his  na 
tive  pastures,  his  younger  brother  all  the  while  running  at  the  head 
of  the  horses  under  the  saddle,  bearing  on  his  bit,  and  held  in  by 
his  rider.  The  whole  eight  horses  made  their  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  each  that  day,  (after  thirty  the  evening  before)  the 
elder  cinnamon  making  ninety  of  his  under  the  saddle  that  day,  be 
sides  thirty  under  the  saddle  the  evening  before ;  nor  was  there  the 
least  doubt  that  he  would  have  done  the  whole  distance  in  the  same 
time  if  he  had  continued  under  the  saddle. 

"  After  a  hospitable  detention  of  another  half  day  at  San  Luis 
Obispo,  the  party  set  out  for  Los  Angelos  on  the  same  nine  horses 
which  they  had  ridden  from  that  place,  and  made  the  ride  back  in 
about  the  same  time  they  had  made  it  up,  namely,  at  the  rate  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  a  day. 


214  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL   FREMONT. 

"  On  this  ride  the  grass  on  the  road  was  the  food  for  the  horses. 
At  Monterey  they  had  barley;  but  those  horses,  meaning  those 
trained  and  domesticated,  as  the  canalos  were,  eat  almost  anything 
in  the  way  of  vegetable  food,  or  even  drink,  that  their  master  uses, 
by  whom  they  are  petted  and  caressed,  and  rarely  sold.  Bread, 
fruits,  sugar,  coffee,  and  even  wine,  (like  the  Persian  horse,)  they 
take  from  the  hand  of  their  master,  and  obey  with  like  docility  his 
slightest  intimation.  A  tap  of  the  whip  on  the  saddle  springs  them 
into  action ;  and  the  check  of  a  thread  rein  (on  the  Spanish  bit) 
would  stop  them ;  and  stopped  short  at  speed  they  do  not  jostle  the 
rider  or  throw  him  forward.  They  leap  at  any  thing — man,  beast, 
or  weapon,  on  which  their  master  directs  them.  But  this  descrip 
tion,  so  far  as  conduct  or  behaviour  is  concerned,  of  course  only  ap 
plies  to  the  trained  and  domesticated  horse." 


ADJUTANT-GENKRAL  JONES. 


Page  215. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JONES. 


BREVET  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  ROGER  JONES,  Adjutant-General  of 
the  United  States'  army,  is  a  native  of  Westmoreland  county,  Vir 
ginia,  and  brother  to  the  distinguished  Commodore  Jones.  After 
receiving  a  good  education,  he  entered  the  army  [January  26th, 
1809]  while  quite  young,  as  a  lieutenant  of  marines,  in  which  capa 
city  he  was  actively  employed  until  July  6th,  1812,  when  he  was 
appointed  a  captain  of  artillery. 

At  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1813,  Captain  Jones  joined 
the  regiment  of  Colonel  [General]  Macomb,  at  Greenbush,  where 
was  established  a  camp  of  instruction.  Soon  after,  the  whole  army, 
under  Major-General  Dearborn,  marched  to  Sackett's  Harbour  and 
prepared  for  a  descent  upon  Upper  Canada.  Immediately  after  the 
capture  of  York,  and  in  full  view  of  Fort  Niagara,  Captain  Jones 
received  from  Brigadier-General  Chandler  the  appointment  of 
major  of  brigade,  a  station  for  which  his  high  reputation  as  a  dis 
ciplinarian  and  an  active,  zealous  officer,  eminently  qualified  him. 

In  his  new  capacity,  Captain  Jones  was  actively  and  efficiently 
engaged  in  the  taking  of  Fort  George,  May  27th,  1813;  and  eight 
days  afterward  [June  5th]  he  was  with  Brigadier-General  Chandler 
at  the  battle  of  Stony  Creek,  where,  after  displaying  great  bravery, 
he  received  a  severe  wound  from  a  bayonet.  On  the  13th  of  Au 
gust  he  was  transferred  to  the  staff  as  assistant  adjutant-general,  with 
the  brevet  rank  of  major. 

In  the  memorable  campaign  of  1814  on  the  Niagara  frontier, 
Major  Jones  bore  a  distinguished  part.  At  its  commencement  ne 
was  attached  to  the  staff  of  Major-General  Brown,  commanding  the 
left  division  of  the  army.  He  assisted  in  the  crossing  of  the  Nia 
gara,  and  taking  of  Fort  Erie,  [July  3d,  1814,]  and  was  in  the  battle 

v2  (215) 


216  BRIGADIER-GENERAL   JONES. 

of  Chippewa,  July  5th,  1814.  In  his  gfficial  report  of  this  event, 
General  Brown  says :  — 

"Colonel  Gardner,  Major  Jones,"  &c.,  "have  been  as  active, 
•  and  as  much  devoted  to  the  cause  as  any  officers  of  the  army. 
Their  conduct  merits  my  warmest  acknowledgments ;  of  Gardner 
and  Jones  I  shall  have  occasion  again  to  speak  to  you." 

For  his  "distinguished  services  in  the  battle  of  Chippewa," 
Major  Jones  received  from  President  Madison  the  brevet  rank  of 
major  in  the  corps  of  artillery  to  which  he  belonged. 

In  the  great  battle  of  Niagara,  [July  25th,  1814,]  Major  Jones 
again  acted  well  and  honourably  his  part,  and  received  high  com 
mendation  from  Major-General  Brown.  He  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Erie  [August  15th,  1814]  under  General  Gaines, 
when  that  post  was  assaulted  by  the  British  under  Lieutenant- 
General  Drummond.  In  his  official  report  of  the  battle,  General 
Gaines  says:  — 

"To  Major  Jones,  assistant  adjutant-general,  Major  Hall,"  &c..j 
"  much  credit  is  due  for  their  constant  vigilance  and  strict  attention 
to  every  duty  previous  to  the  action,  and  the  steady  courage,  'zeal, 
and  activity,  which  they  manifested  during  the  action." 

Major  Jones  was  engaged  in  the  subsequent  defence  of  Fort  Erie, 
and  sortie  from  the  works,  where  "  one  thousand  regulars,"  says 
General  Brown,  "  and  an  equal  number  of  militia,  in  one  hour  of 
close  action,  blasted  the  hopes  of  the  enemy,  destroyed  the  fruits 
of  fifty  days'  labour,  and  diminished  his  effective  force  one  thousand 
men  at  least."  For  his  conduct  in  the  affair  the  major  received 
from  President  Madison  the  further  promotion  of  brevet  lieutenant- 
colonel.  During  the  whole  siege,  he  performed  the  duties  of  adju 
tant-general  (chief  of  staff)  during  the  sickness  of  Colonel  Gardner. 
When  General  Izard's  command  arrived,  he  was  transferred  to  the 
left  division  of  the  army,  and  continued  to  exercise  the  duties  of  his 
office  until  the  close  of  the  campaign  of  1814,  when  the  Americans 
retired  into  winter  quarters  at  Sackett's  Harbour. 

In  June,  1815,  at  the  solicitation  of  General  Brown,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Jones  joined  the  staff  of  that  officer  as  aid-de-camp  and  adju  • 
tant-general.  When  he  left  the  general's  military  family,  he 
received  from  him  an  elegant  sword  as  a  testimonial  of  his  friendship 
and  gratitude ;  and  a  short  time  previous  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
Generals  Brown,  Porter,  and  Scott  each  addressed  letters  to  the 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JONES.  217 

Secretary  of  War,  [Mr.  Monroe,]  warmly  recommending  Brevet 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Jones  for  the  full  lieutenant-colonelcy  of  the 
24th  infantry. 

On  the  15th  of  February,  1834,  the  legislature  of  Virginia  voted 
swords  to  Colonel  Jones  and  his  brother  of  the  navy,  as  proofs  of 
esteem  for  their  distinguished  services.  Owing  to  accidental  causes, 
this  testimonial  was  not  presented  to  the  colonel  until  February 
22d,  1841. 

Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jones  remained  with  his  company 
from  December,  1815,  until  August,  1818,  and  the  admirable  con 
dition  to  which  he  brought  it  is  still  remembered  in  the  service.  It 
excelled  in  all  that  constitutes  a  model  corps.  August  10th,  1818, 
he  was  appointed  adjutant-general  of  the  Northern  Division,  with 
the  brevet  rank  of  colonel.  He  remained  in  this  capacity  until 
1821,  when,  notwithstanding  the  reduction  of  the  army,  he  was 
retained  with  his  full  lineal  rank,  and  assigned  to  the  3d  regiment 
of  artillery.  While  yet  a  captain  in  the  line,  he  was  appointed 
[March  7th,  1825]  adjutant-general  of  the  United  Stales'  army, 
with  the  rank  of  colonel.  On  the  17th  of  February,  1827,  he  was 
promoted  as  major  of  the  2d  artillery  in  the  regular  line.  In  1829 
he  received  the  brevet  of  colonel,  [ranking  from  September  17th, 
1824,]  and  on  June  17th,  1832,  he  was  raised  to  brevet  brigadier- 
general,  which  rank  he  now  holds  in  the  military  service. 

In  October,  1844,  Brigadier-General  Jones,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Mason,  and  Governor  Butler,  Cherokee  Agent,  were  constituted  by 
the  President  a  commission  to  the  Cherokees,  in  order  to  invest  and 
report  upon  the  causes  and  extent  of  the  discontents  and  difficulties 
among  them.  The  report  which,  as  president  of  the  commission, 
General  Jones  drew  up,  was  able  and  conclusive,  eventuating  in  the 
formal  pacification  of  the  Indians. 

General  Jones  has  now  been  adjutant-general  of  the  army  for 
more  than  twenty  years.  A  glance  at  the  army  regulations  will 
show,  that  his  office  is  one  of  the  principal  military  bureaus  of  the 
war  department.  Its  civil  and  ministerial  relations  to  the  head  of 
the  department  are  numerous,  weighty,  and  often  confidential ; 
whilst  in  all  organizations  of  the  general  staff  of  the  army,  it  occu 
pies  a  position,  as  regards  matters  purely  military,  of  the  first  im 
portance.  As  the  chief  of  staff  to  the  commander  of  the  army,  the 
adjutant-general  is  charged  with  all  orders,  military  correspondence, 
19 


218  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JONES. 

&c.  And  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  amount  of  business 
connected  with  his  office,  which  had  been  more  than  quadrupled 
since  the  war  of  1812,  has  been  vastly  augmented  during  our  dis 
pute  with  Mexico. 

How  General  Jones  has  sustained  the  heavy  pressure  of  official 
business,  how  faithfully  and  intelligently  he  has  performed  his  duty 
to  the  army  and  the  country,  is  well  known.  No  officer  stands 
higher  in  the  estimation  of  those  who  are  best  able  to  form  a  correct 
judgment  of  his  character  and  services.  The  successive  chief  ma 
gistrates  of  the  nation,  the  various  secretaries  of  war  and  generals- 
in-chief,  and  the  records  of  Congress  during  the  last  twenty  years, 
have  all  testified  to  his  official  worth  and  the  value  of  his  labours. 

During  the  Florida  war  and  other  Indian  outbreaks,  together  with 
the  troubles  on  our  northern  and  north-eastern  borders,  the  labours 
of  General  Jones  have  been  great ;  but  the  country  is  especially  in 
debted  to  him,  for  his  able,  zealous,  and  unremitting  services,  during 
the  war  with  Mexico.  The  increase  of  the  regular  army  to  more 
than  double  its  previous  number ;  the  raising,  organizing,  and  send 
ing  to  the  field  fifty  thousand  volunteers ;  the  legislation  necessary 
to  meet  the  change  from  peace  to  war,  and  to  place  the  enlarged 
military  establishment  upon  the  proper  basis ;  the  voluminous  and 
highly  important  orders  and  correspondence  indispensable  to  such  a 
state  of  affairs,  has  each  received  due  attention  at  his  hands.  And 
no  small  share  of  the  efficiency  of  our  armies  in  Mexico  results  from 
the  skilful  administration  of  Adjutant-General  Jones. 


LIEUT.  CHRISTOPHER  CARSON. 


Page  219. 


LIEUTENANT  CHRISTOPHER  CARSON. 


THE  famous  Christopher  Carson  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in 
1810,  but  in  the  following  year  his  father  removed,  and  settled  in 
Missouri.  In  this  wilderness  young  Carson  remained  until  he  ar 
rived  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  joined  a  trading  party  destined 
for  Santa  Fe.  After  roaming  over  the  vast  plains  beyond  the  Mis 
souri,  he  reached  New  Mexico  after  various  adventures,  and  was 
employed  as  teamster  in  the  copper  mines  of  Chihuahua. 

When  seventeen  years  old,  he  made  his  first  expedition  as  a 
trapper.  The  party  proceeded  to  the  Rio  Colorado  (California), 
met  with  numerous  hardships  and  adventures,  and  had  several  bat 
tles  with  the  Indians.  It  returned,  however,  safely  to  Taos,  New 
Mexico ;  and  soon  after  "Kit"  joined  another  party,  to  visit  the  head 
waters  of  the  Arkansas.  After  this  he  passed  eight  years  as  a  trap 
per  among  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  in  Oregon.  Here  he  became 
noted  as  a  successful  hunter,  an  unfailing  shot,  an  unerring  guide, 
and  a  brave,  sagacious,  and  steady  warrior.  At  one  time,  with  a 
party  of  twelve,  he  tracked  a  band  of  nearly  sixty  Crows,  who  had 
stolen  some  of  their  horses ;  cut  loose  the  animals,  which  were  tied 
within  ten  feet  of  a  strong  log  fort  belonging  to  the  Indians,  attacked 
them  and  made  good  his  retreat  with  the  horses — a  friendly  Indian 
bringing  away  a  Crow  scalp  as  a  trophy.  In  a  combat  with  the 
Blackfeet  Indians,  Carson  received  a  rifle-ball  in  his  left  shoulder, 
breaking  it ;  but  excepting  this  he  has  escaped  the  manifold  dan 
gers  to  which  he  has  been  exposed  without  serious  injury. 

Colonel  Fremont  owed  his  good  fortune  in  procuring  Carson's 
services,  to  an  accidental  meeting  on  a  steamboat  above  St.  Louis— 
neither  having  ever  before  heard  of  the  other.  It  was  at  the  com 
mencement  of  Fremont's  first  expedition.  Carson  continued  with 

(219) 


220  LIEUTENANT   CARSON. 

it  until,  in  its  return,  it  had  recrossed  the  mountains.  His  courage, 
fidelity,  and  excellent  character,  so  far  conciliated  the  good  will  of 
the  commander,  that  in  his  second  expedition  he  gladly  availed 
himself  again  of  Kit's  services,  on  meeting  with  him,  as  he  chanced 
to  do,  on  the  confines  of  New  Mexico.  Kit  again  left  the  party 
after  its  arrival  this  side  of  the  mountains — not,  however,  until  Fre 
mont  had  obtained  a  promise  from  him  to  join  the  third  expedition 
in  case  one  should  be  organized.  Some  incidents  will  be  interest 
ing,  connected  with  this  latter  expedition,  which  was  interrupted  in 
its  purely  scientific  character,  by  the  hostility  of  the  Mexican 
chief  (Castro),  compelling  Fremont  to  change  his  peaceful  employ 
ment. 

In  the  interim  between  Fremont's  second  and  third  expeditions, 
Carson  had  settled  himself  near  Taos,  and  had  begun  to  farm,  pre 
paring  to  lead  a  quiet  life,  when  he  received  a  note  from  Fremont, 
written  at  Bent's  Fort,  reminding  him  of  his  promise,  and  telling 
him  he  would  there  wait  for  him.  In  four  days  from  receiving  the 
note,  Carson  had  joined  the  party,  having  sold  house  and  farm  for 
less  than  half  the  sum  he  had  just  expended  upon  it,  and  put  his 
family  under  the  protection  of  his  friend,  the  late  Governor  Bent, 
until  he  should  return  from  a  certainly  long  and  dangerous  journey. 
This  protection,  unfortunately,  was  taken  from  them  in  the  late 
massacre  at  Taos,  when  Carson's  brother-in-law  was  also  one  of  the 
victims  to  the  fury  of  the  Mexicans  against  all  connected  with  the 
Americans.  Mrs.  Carson  saved  her  life  by  flight,  leaving  them  to 
rob  the  house  of  every  thing. 

The  route  of  the  third  expedition  led  the  party  to  the  southern 
and  western  side  of  the  great  Salt  Lake  —  a  region  entirely  unex 
plored,  and  filled,  according  to  the  superstitions  and  tales  current 
among  the  Indians  and  trappers  of  the  mountains,  with  all  imagina 
ble  horrors.  A  vast  desert,  void  of  vegetation  and  fresh  water, 
abounding  in  quicksands  and  in  brackish  pools  and  rivers,  with  only 
subterranean  outlets.  The  southern  border  of  the  lake  was  found 
to  be  skirted  with  a  salt  plain  of  about  sixty  miles  in  width.  Over 
this,  as  elsewhere,  Carson,  in  his  capacity  of  scout,  was  always  with 
the  advance  party,  to  search  for  water  and  convenient  places  for 
camp — the  usual  signal  of  the  prairies,  a  fire,  serving,  by  its  column 
of  smoke,  to  point  out  where  the  advance  were  halting. 

When  Fremont's  party,  in  May,  1846  (not  knowing  of  the  exist- 


FIGHT   WITH   THE   TLAMATH   INDIANS.  221 

ence  of  the  war  with  Mexico),  retired  from  California,  they  pro 
ceeded  north  as  far  as  the  Tlamath  lake,  in  Oregon,  proposing  to 
explore  a  new  route  into  the  Willhameth  valley. 

A  courier  having  reached  Colonel  Fremont  there,  to  say  that 
Mr.  Gillespie  and  five  men  were  endeavouring  to  overtake  him,  he 
took  ten  men  and  returned  sixty  miles  with  the  courier ;  making 
all  haste  in  order  to  reach  them  before  night,  and  prevent  any  attack 
which  the  Indians  might  be  tempted  to  make  on  a  small  party. 
The  events  of  that  night  and  the  days  following  illustrate  so  fully 
the  nightly  danger  of  an  Indian  country,  and  the  treacherous  nature 
of  savages,  that  they  will  be  given  in  Carson's  own  words : 

"  This  was  the  only  night  in  all  our  travels,  except  the  one  night 
on  the  island  in  the  Salt  Lake,  that  we  failed  to  keep  guard  ;  and  as 
the  men  were  so  tired,  and  we  expected  no  attack  now  that  we  had 
sixteen  in  the  party,  the  colonel  didn't  like  to  ask  it  of  them,  but  sat 
up  late  himself.  Owens  and  I  were  sleeping  together,  and  we  were 
waked  at  the  same  time  by  the  licks  of  the  axe  that  killed  our  men. 
At  first,  I  didn't  know  it  was  that ;  but  I  called  to  Basil,  who  was 
that  side — 'What's  the  matter  there? — what's  that  fuss  about?' — 
he  never  answered,  for  he  was  dead  then,  poor  fellow,  and  he  never 
knew  what  killed  him — his  head  had  been  cut  in,  in  his  sleep ;  the 
other  groaned  a  little  as  he  died.  The  Delawares  (we  had  four 
with  us)  were  sleeping  at  that  fire,  and  they  sprang  up  as  the  Tla- 
maths  charged  them.  One  of  them  caught  up  a  gun,  which  was 
unloaded  ;  but,  although  he  could  do  no  execution,  he  kept  them  at 
bay,  fighting  like  a  soldier,  and  didn't  give  up  until  he  was  shot 
full  of  arrows — three  entering  his  heart ;  he  died  bravely.  As  soon 
as  I  had  called  out,  1  saw  it  was  Indians  in  the  camp,  and  I  and 
Owens  together  cried  out '  Indians.'  There  were  no  orders  given ; 
things  went  on  too  fast,  and  the  colonel  had  men  with  him  that 
didn't  need  to  be  told  their  duty.  The  colonel  and  I,  Maxwell, 
Owens,  Godey,  and  Stepp,  jumped  together,  we  six,  and  ran  to  the 
assistance  of  our  Delawares.  I  don't  know  who  fired  and  who 
didn't;  but  I  think  it  was  Stepp's  shot  that  killed  the  Tlamath 
chief;  for  it  was  at  the  crack  of  Stepp's  gun  that  he  fell.  He  had 
an  English  half  axe  slung  to  his  wrist  by  a  cord,  and  there  were 
forty  arrows  left  in  his  quiver  —  the  most  beautiful  and  warlike  ar 
rows  I  ever  saw.  He  must  have  been  the  bravest  man  among 
them,  from  the  way  he  was  armed,  and  judging  by  his  cap.  When 
19*  w 


222  LIEUTENANT   CARSON. 

the  Tlaraaths  saw  him  fall,  they  ran  ;  but  we  lay,  every  man  with 
his  rifle  cocked,  until  daylight,  expecting  another  attack. 

"In  the  morning  we  found  by  the  tracks  that  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  of  the  Tlamaths  had  attacked  us.  They  had  killed  three 
of  our  men,  and  wounded  one  of  the  Delawares,  who  scalped  the 
chief,  whom  we  left  where  he  fell.  Our  dead  men  we  carried  on 
mules ;  but,  after  going  about  ten  miles,  we  found  it  impossible  to 
get  them  any  farther  through  the  thick  timber,  and,  finding  a  secret 
place,  we  buried  them  under  logs  and  chunks,  having  no  way  to 
dig  a  grave.  It  was  only  a  few  days  before  this  fight  that  some  of 
these  same  Indians  had  come  into  our  camp ;  and,  although  we  had 
only  meat  for  two  days,  and  felt  sure  that  we  should  have  to  eat 
mules  for  ten  or  fifteen  days  to  come,  the  colonel  divided  with  them, 
and  even  had  a  mule  unpacked  to  give  them  some  tobacco  and 
knives." 

The  party  then  retraced  its  way  into  California,  and  two  days 
after  this  rencontre  they  met  a  large  village  of  Tlamaths — more  than 
a  hundred  warriors.  Carson  was  ahead  with  ten  men,  but  one  of 
them  having  been  discovered,  he  could  not  follow  his  orders,  which 
were  to  send  back  word  and  let  Fremont  come  up  with  the  rest  in 
case  they  found  Indians.  But  as  they  had  been  seen,  it  only  re 
mained  to  charge  the  village,  which  they  did,  killing  many,  and 
putting  the  rest  to  flight.  The  women  and  children,  Carson  says, 
we  didn't  interfere  with ;  but  burnt  the  village,  together  with 
their  canoes  and  fishing-nets.  In  a  subsequent  encounter  the  same 
day,  Carson's  life  was  imminently  exposed.  As  they  gallopped  up, 
he  was  rather  in  advance,  when  he  observed  an  Indian  fixing  his 
arrow  to  let  fly  at  him.  Carson  levelled  his  rifle,  but  it  snapped, 
and  in  an  instant  the  arrow  would  have  pierced  him,  had  not  Fre 
mont,  seeing  the  danger,  dashed  his  horse  on  the  Indian  and  knocked 
him  down. 

The  hostile  and  insulting  course  of  Castro  drew  Fremont  into 
retaliatory  measures ;  and,  aided  by  the  American  settlers,  he  pur 
sued  the  Mexicans  for  some  time  ;  but  being  unable  to  make  them 
stand  and  fight,  they  always  flying  before  him,  the  flag  of  indepen 
dence  was  raised  at  Sonoma,  on  the  5th  of  July,  1846.  Learning 
soon  after  of  the  existence  of  the  war,  the  American  flag  was 
promptly  substituted,  and  the  party  proceeded  to  Monterey,  where 
they  found  the  fleet  under  Commodore  Sloat  already  in  possession. 


FURTHER   OPERATIONS   IN    CALIFORNIA.  223 

Castro,  with  his  forces,  had  retreated  before  Fremont,  and,  to  pre 
vent  their  escape  into  Sonora,  Colonel  Fremont  with  a  hundred  and 
sixty  men,  was  offered  the  sloop  of  war  Cyane  to  carry  them  down 
to  San  Diego  and  facilitate  the  pursuit,  as  he  hoped  by  that  means 
to  intercept  Castro  at  Pueblo  de  los  Angelos.  Then  Carson,  for  the 
first  time,  saw  the  blue  ocean,  and  the  great  vessels  that,  like  white- 
winged  birds,  spread  their  sails  above  its  waters.  The  vast  prairies, 
whose  immense  green  surface  has  been  aptly  likened  to  the  sea, 
together  with  all  objects  ever  seen  upon  it,  were  familiar  to  him ; 
but  it  proved  no  preparation  for  actual  salt  water,  and  the  pride  and 
strength  of  the  backwoodsmen  were  soon  humbled  by  the  customary 
tribute  to  Neptune.  The  forces  were  landed,  and  raised  the  flag  at 
San  Diego,  and  then  they  proceeded  jointly  to  the  capital,  Ciudad 
de  los  Angelos,  where,  although  from  the  detention  at  sea,  Castro 
had  escaped,  American  authority  was  also  established. 

From  this  point,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1846,  Carson,  with 
fifteen  men,  was  despatched  by  Fremont  with  an  account  of  the 
progress  and  state  of  affairs  in  that  distant  conquest.  Carson  was  to 
have  made  the  journey  from  Puebla  to  Washington  city  and  back 
in  one  hundred  and  forty  days.  He  pushed  ahead  accordingly,  not 
stopping  even  for  game,  but  subsisting  on  his  mules,  of  which  they 
made  food  as  the  animals  broke  down  in  the  rapidity  of  the  journey. 
He  had  crossed  the  wilderness,  as  he  expected,  in  thirty  days, 
when,  meeting  with  General  Kearny's  company,  within  a  few  days 
of  Santa  Fe,  he  was  turned  back  by  that  officer,  to  whose  orders  he 
believed  himself  subject,  and  with  infinite  reluctance  resigned  his 
despatches  to  another,  and  returned  to  guide  K*earny's  command 
into  California. 

General  Kearny  entered  California  without  molestation  until  the 
fight  of  San  Pascual ;  an  official  account  of  which  has  been  pub 
lished.  In  the  charge  made  upon  the  Mexicans,  Carson,  as  usual, 
was  among  the  foremost,  when,  as  he  approached  within  bullet- 
range  of  the  enemy,  who  were  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle,  his  horse 
stumbled  and  fell,  pitching  him  over  his  head,  and  breaking  his 
rifle  in  twain.  Seizing  a  knife,  he  advanced  on  foot,  until  he  found 
a  killed  dragoon,  whose  rifle  he  took,  and  was  pressing  on,  when  he 
met  the  mounted  men  returning  from  the  charge,  the  Mexicans  hav 
ing  gallopped  ofF.  At  the  instance  of  Carson,  the  American  party 
then  took  possession  of  a  small  rocky  hill,  near  the  scene  of  the  bat 


224  LIEUTENANT   CARSON. 

tie,  as  the  strongest  position  in  reach.  Not  being  in  a  situation  to 
go  forward,  they  encamped  here ;  and  the  enemy  collecting  in 
force,  they  remained  in  a.  state  of  siege.  There  was  little  'of  grass 
or  water  on  the  hill,  and  soon  both  animals  and  men  began  to  suffer. 
The  way  was  so  thickly  beset  with  the  enemy,  that  the  commander 
doubted  the  propriety  of  attempting  to  cut  a  passage  through,  when, 
after  a  four  days'  siege,  Carson  and  Passed  Midshipman  Beale,  of 
the  navy  (who  had  been  sent  to  meet  Kearny,  with  some  thirty 
men,  as  a  complimentary  escort  to  San  Diego),  volunteered  to  go  to 
Commodore  Stockton,  at  that  place,  and  bring  a  reinforcement. 

Leaving  the  frontier  settlements  of  California  on  the  25th  of  Feb 
ruary,  Carson  arrived  in  St.  Louis  about  the  middle  of  May  — 
making  the  journey,  notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the  season, 
and  an  unavoidable  detention  of  ten  days  at  Santa  Fe,  in  a  shorter 
time  than  it  was  ever  before  accomplished. 

Carson  subsequently  visited  Washington,  where  he  received  from 
President  Polk  a  commission  of  lieutenant  in  Fremont's  rifle  regi 
ment,  in  reward  for  his  num<  rous  services. 


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A  1 


JOSEPHUS'S  (FLAVIUS)  WORKS. 

Br  THE  LATE  WILLIAM  WHISTON,  A.  M. 
From  the  last  London  edition,  complete,  and  the  only  readable  edition  published 

in  this  country. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  every  family  in  our  country  has  a  copy  of  the  Holy  Bible 
•—and  as  the  presumption  is,  the  greater  portion  often  consult  its  pages,  we  take 
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phus  will  be  found  very  interesting  and  instructing. 

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SAY'S  POLITICAL  ECONOMY. 

A  Treatise  on  Political  Economy,  or  the  Production,  Distribution,  and 
Consumption  of  Wealth.  By  Jean  Baptiste  Say.  Fifth  American  edi 
tion,  with  Additional  Notes,  by  C.  C.  Biddle,  Esq.,  in  1  vol.  8vo. 

It  would  be  beneficial  to  our  country  if  all  those  who  are  aspiring  to  office, 
were  required  by  their  constituents  to  be  conversant  with  the  pages  of  Say. 

The  distinguished  biographer  of  the  author,  in  noticing  this  work,  observes, 
"Happily  for  science  he  commenced  that  study  which  forms  the  basis  of  his  admi 
rable  treatise  on  Political  Economy,  a  work  which  not  only  improved  under  his 
hand  with  every  successive  edition,  but  has  been  translated  into  most  of  the  Euro 
pean  languages." 

The  ed, tor  of  the  North  American  Review,  speaking  of  Say,  observes,  that  "  he  is 
the  most  popular,  and  perhaps  the  most  able  writer  on  Political  Economy,  since 
the  time  of  Smith." 


BENNETT'S  (PvEV.  JOHN)  LETTERS  TO  A  YOUNG  LADY, 
On  a  variety  of  subjects  calculated  to  improve  the  heart,  to  form  the  man 
ners,  and  enlighten  the  understanding.     "  That  our  Daughters  may  be 
as  polished  corners  of  the  Temple." 

The  publishers  sincerely  hope,  (for  the  happiness  of  mankind,)  that  a  copy  of  this 
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the  happiness  of  every  family  depends  on  the  proper  cultivation  of  the  female  mind. 

BORDER'S    VILLAGE   SERMONS. 

Or,  101  Plain  and  Short  Discourses  on  the  Principal  Doctrines  of  the 
Gospel;  intended  for  the  use  of  Families,  Sunday  Schools,  or  compa 
nies  assembled  for  religious  instruction  in  country  villages.  By  George 
Burder.  To  which  is  added,  to  each  Sermon,  a  short  Prayer,  with 
some  General  Prayers  for  Families,  Schools,  &c.,  at  the  end  of  the 
work.  Complete  in  1  vol.  8vo. 

These  sermons,  which  are  characterized  by  a  beautiful  simplicity,  the  entire 
absence  of  controversy,  and  a  true  evangelical  spirit,  have  gone  through  many 
and  large  editions,  and  been  translated  into  several  of  the  continental  languages. 
"  They  have  also  been  the  honored  means  not  only  of  converting  many  individuals, 
but  also  of  introducing  the  Gospel  into  districts,  and  even  into  parish  churches, 
where  before  it  was  comparatively  unknown." 

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and  sincere  wishes  of  all  who  take  a  deep  interest  in  the  eternal  welfare  ?f  man 
kind. 

2 


NEW     SONG    BOOK, 

Grigg's  Southern  and  Western  Songster;  being  a  choice  collection  of  the 
most  Fashionable  Songs,  many  of  which  are  original,  in  1  vol.  18rno. 
Great  care  was  taken  in  the  selection,  to  admit  no  song  that  contained,  in  the 
slightest  degree,  any  indelicate  or  improper  allusions,  and  with  great  propriety  it 
may  claim  the  title  of  "  The  Parlor  Song  Book  or  Songster."     The  immortal 
Shakspeare  observes — 

"  The  man  that  hath  not  music  in  himself, 

Nor  is  not  moved  with  concord  of  sweet  sounds, 

Is  fit  for  treasons,  stratagems,  and  spoils." 

FAMILY  PRAYERS  AND  HYMNS 

Adapted  to  Family  Worship,  and  Tables  for  the  regular  Reading  of  the 
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Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  and  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Natchez,  Miss.  1  vol.  I2mo. 


A  DICTIONARY  OF  SELECT  AND  POPULAR  QUOTATIONS, 
Which  are  in  Daily  Use:  taken  from  the  Latin,  French,  Greek,  Spanish 
and  Italian  Languages;  together  with  a  copious  collection  of  Law 
Maxims  and  Law  Terms.  Translated  into  English,  with  illustrations, 
historical  and  idiomatic.  Sixth  American  edition,  corrected  with  addi 
tions.  1  vol.  J2mo. 

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THE 

Or,  "Youth's  Guide  to  the  Way  to  Wealth,  Honor,  and  Distinction,"  &c.: 
containing  also  a  complete  Treatise  on  the  art  of  Carving. 
"We  most  cordially  recommend  the  American  Chesterfield  to  general  atten 

tion;  but  to  young  persons  particularly,  as  one  of  the  best  works  of  the  kind  that 

has  erer  been  published  in  this  country.     It  cannot  be  too  highly  appreciated,  nor 

its  perusal  be  unproductive  of  satisfaction  and  usefulness." 

SENECA'S    MORALS. 

By  way  of  Abstract,  to  which  is  added,  a  Discourse  under  the  title  of  an 
After-Thought,  by  Sir  Roger  L;Estrange,  Knt.     A  new  fine  edition,  1 
vol.  18mo. 
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THE  DAUGHTER'S  OWN  BOOK. 

Or,  Practical  Hints  jrom  a  Father  to  his  Daughter.     1  vol.  18mo. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  practical  and  truly  valuable  treatises  on  the  culture  and 
discipline  of  the  female  mind,  which  has  hitherto  been  published  in  this  country, 
and  the  publishers  are  very  confident,  from  the  great  demand  for  this  invaluable 
little  work,  that  ere  long  it  wiH  be  found  in  the  library  of  every  young  lady. 

GOLDSMITH'S     ANIMATED     NATURE. 

In  2  voln.  8uo.,  beautifully  Illustrated  with  385  Plates. 

"Goldsmith  can  never  be  made  obsolete  while  delicate  genius,  exquisite  fuel 
ing,  fine  invention,  the  most  harmonious  metre,  and  the  happiest  diction  are  a*  all 
valued." 

This  is  a  work  that  should  be  in  the  library  of  every  family,  being  written  by 
one  of  the  most  talented  authors  in  the  English  language. 

3 


THE  WORKS  05  LAURENC^  STERNE. 
In  1  vol.  8vo.,  with  a  Life  of  the  Author,  written  by  himself,  and  a  Portrait 

The  beauties  of  this  author  are  so  well  known,  and  his  errors  in  style  and 
expression  so  few  and  far  between,  that  one  reads  with  renewed  delight  his  deli 
cate  turns,  &c. 

SPLENDID     LIBRARY     EDITIONS. 

ILLUSTRATED  STAJVDAnn  POETS. 

ELEGANTLY   PRINTED,   AND   UNIFORM    IN   SIZE   AND   STYLE. 

The  following  editions  of  Standard  British  Poets  are  illustrated  with  nu 
merous  steel  engravings,  and  may  be  had  in  all  varieties  of  binding. 


Complete  in  1  vol.  Svo.,  including  all  his  Suppressed  and  Attributed  Poemsj 
with  6  beautiful  engravings. 

9^"  This  edition  has  been  carefully  compared  with  the  recent  London  edition 
of  Mr.  Murray,  and  made  complete  by  the  addition  of  more  than  fifty  pages  of 
poems  heretofore  unpublished  in  England.  Among  these  there  are  a  number  that 
have  never  appeared  in  any  American  edition;  and  the  publishers  believe  they 
are  warranted  in  saying,  that  this  is  the  most  complete  edition  of  Lord  Byron'* 
Poetical  Works  ever  published  in  the  United  States. 


COWPER  AND  THOMSON'S  PROSE  AND  POETICAL  WORKS. 
Complete  in  1  vol.  8vo.,  including  two  hundred  and  fifty  Letters,  and 
sundry  Poems  of  Cowper,  never  before  published  in  this  country;  and 
of  Thomson  a  new  and  interesting  Memoir,  and  upwards  of  twenty 
new  Poems,  for  the  first  time  printed  from  his  own  Manuscripts,  taken 
from  a  late  edition  of  the  Aldine  Poets  now  publishing  in  London; 
with  7  beautiful  engravings. 

The  distinguished  Professor  Silliman,  speaking  of  this  edition,  observes,  "  I  am 
as  much  gratified  by  the  elegance  and  fine  taste  of  your  edition,  as  by  the  noble 
tribute  of  genius  and  moral  excellence  which  these  delightful  authors  have  lell  for 
all  future  generations;  and  Cowper,  especially,  is  not  less  conspicuous  as  a  true 
Christian  moralist  and  teacher,  than  as  a  poet  of  great  power  and  exquisite  taste." 


TEE  POETICAL  WORKS  OF  MRS.  REMANS. 

Complete  in  1  vol.  8vo.;  with  1  beautiful  engravings. 

O^r  This  is  a  new  and  complete  edition,  with  a  splendid  engraved  likeness  of 
Mrs.  Hemans  on  steel,  and  contains  all  the  poems  in  the  last  London  and  Ameri 
can  editions.  With  a  Critical  Preface  by  Mr.  Thatcher,  of  Boston. 

"  As  no  work  in  the  English  language  can  be  commended  with  more  confidence, 
it  will  argu.j  bad  taste  in  a  female  in  this  country  to  be  without  a  complete  edition 
of  the  writings  of  one  who  was  an  honor  to  her  sex  and  to  humanity,  and  whose 
productions,  from  first  to  last,  contain  no  syllable  calculated  to  call  a  blush  to  the 
cheek  of  modesty  and  virtue.  There  is,  moreover,  in  Mrs.  Hemans'  poetry  a 
moral  puiity,  and  a  religious  feeling,  which  commend  it,  in  nn  .especial  manner, 
to  the  discriminating  reader.  No  parent  or  guardian  will  be  under  the  necessity 
of  imposing  restrictions  with  regard  to  the  free  perusal  of  every  production  ema 
nating  frotn  this  gifted  woman.  There  breathes  throughout  the  whole  a  most 
eminent  exemption  from  impropriety  of  thought  or  diction  ;  and  there  is  at  times 
a  pensiveness  of  tone,  a  winning  sadness  in  her  more  serious  compositions,  which 
tells  of  a  soul  which  has  been  lifted  from  the  contemplation  of  terrestrial  things, 
to  divine  communings  with  beings  of  a  purer  world." 
4 


THE  POETICAL  WORKS  OF  ROGERS,  CAMPBELL,  MONT 
GOMERY,  LAMB,  AND  KIRK  WHITE. 
Complete  in  1  vol.  8vo. ,  with  6  beautiful  engravings. 

MILTON,  YOUNG,  GRAYT~BEA.TTIE,  AND   COLLINS7   POETICAL 

WORKS. 
Complete  in  1  vol.  8vo. ;  with  6  beautiful  engravings. 

HEBER,  POLLOK,  AND  CRABBE'S  POETICAL  WORKS. 
Complete  in  1  vol.  8vo.;  with  6  beautiful  engravings. 

A  writer  in  the  Boston  Traveler  holds  the  following  language  with  reference  to 
these  valuable  editions: — 

Mr.  Editor — I  wish,  without  any  idea  of  puffing,  to  say  a  word  or  two  upon  the 
"Library  of  English  Poets1'  that  is  now  published  at  "Philadelphia,  by  Grigg  & 
Elliot;  it  is  certainly,  taking  into  consideration  the  elegant  manner  in  which  it  is 
printed,  and  the  reasonable  price  at  which  it  is  afforded  to  purchasers,  the  best 
edition  of  the  modern  British  Poets  that  has  ever  been  published  in  this  country. 
Each  volume  is  an  octavo  of  about  500  pages,  double  columns,  stereotyped,  and 
accompanied  with  fine  engravings,  and  biographical  sketches,  and  most  of  them 
are  reprinted  from  Galiagnani's  French  edition.  As  to  its  value  we  need  only 
mention  that  it  contains  the  entire  works  of  Montgomery,  Gray,  Bcattie,  Collins, 
Byron,  Cowper,  Thomson,  Milton,  Young,  Rogers,  Campbell,  Lamb,  Hemans, 
Heber,  Kirk  White,  Crabbe,  the  Miscellaneous  Works  of  Goldsmith,  and  other 
martyrs  of  the  lyre.  The  publishers  are  doing  a  great  service  by  their  publication, 
and  their  volumes  are  almost  in  as  great  demand  as  the  fashionable  novels  of  the 
day,  and  they  deserve  to  be  so,  for  they  are  certainly  printed  in  a  style  superior 
to  that  in  which  we  have  before  had  the  works  of  the  English  Poets." 

No  library  can  be  considered  complete  without  a  copy  of  the  above  beautiful 
and  cheap  editions  of  the  English  Poets,  and  persons  ordering  all  or  any  of  them 
will  please  say  Grigg,  Elliot  &  Co.'s  illustrated  editions. 

HIND'S  POPULAR  SYSTEM  OF  FARRIERY, 

Taught  on  a  new  and  easy  plan,  being  a  Treatise  on  all  the  Diseases  and 
Accidents  to  which  the  Horse  is  liable.  With  considerable  additions 

x  and  improvements;  adapted  particularly  to  this  country,  by  Thomas  M. 
Smith.  Veterinary  Surgeon,  and  Member  ot  the  London  Veterinary 
Medical  Society.  In  1  vol.  12mo. 

MASON'S  POPULAR  SYSTEM  OF  FARRIERY. 

Comprising  a  General  Description  of  the  noble  and  useful  animal,  the 
Horse,  together  with  the  quickest  and  simplest  mode  of  fattening; 
necessary  treatment  while  undergoing  excessive  fatigue,  or  on  a  jour 
ney;  the  construction  and  management  of  Stables;  different  marks  for 
ascertaining  the  Age  of  a  Horse:  also,  a  concise  Account  of  the  Dis 
eases  to  which  the  Horse  is  subject;  with  such  remedies  as  long  expe 
rience  has  proved  to  be  effectual.  By  Richard  Mason,  M.  D.,  formerly 
of  Surrey  Co.,  Va.  Ninth  edition,  with  additions.  To  which  is  added 
a  Prise  Essay  on  Mules,  and  An  Appendix  containing  Observations  and 
Recipes  for  the  cure  of  most  of  the  common  distempers  incident  to 
Horses,  Oxen,  Cows,  Calves,  Sheep,  Lambs,  Swine.  Dogs,  &c.  &c. 
Selected  from  different  alithois.  Also,  an  Addenda,  containing  Annals 
of  the  Turf,  -American  Stud  Book,  Rules  for  Training,  Racing.  &c. 
The  publishers  have  received  numerous  flattering  notices  of  the  great  practical 
value  of  these  works.  The  distinguished  editor  of  the  American  Farmer,  speak 
ing  of  them,  observes — "  We  cannot  too  highly  recommend  these  books,  and 
therefore  advise  every  owner  of  a  horse  to  obtain  them'." 

A*  6 


THE  STOCK  KAISER'S  MANUAL. 

A  Guide  to  the  Raising  and  Improvment  of  Cattle,  being  a  Treatise  on  their 
Breeds,  Management,  and  Diseases.  By  W.  Youatt,  author  of  a  <l  Trea 
tise  on  ihe  Horse,"  with  numerous  illustrations.  Complete  in  1  vol.  8vo. 

1    This  work  will  be  found  of  the  greatest  importance  to  farmers  and  cattle  raisers 

throughout  the  United  States,  and  should  be  in  the  possession  of  every  farmer,  at 

it  is  the  most  complete  work  on  this  subject  ever  published. 


M'MAHON'S  AMERICAN  GARDENER. 

Ninth  edition,  much  improved.     In  1  vol.  8vo. 

This  is  an  invaluable  work  to  all  who  wish  to  obtain  any  information  on  the  sol>» 
ject  of  Gardening  in  all  its  various  branches. 


GRIGG,    ELLIOT    &    CO'S 

RURAL  REGISTER  AND  ALMANAC 

For  184§:  to  be  continued  Annually. 

For  farmers  and  gardeners  it  is  invaluable,  giving  full  directions  for  all  their 
work  for  every  month  in  the  year,  and  for  all  the  States  in  the  Union.  There  is 
no  work  ever  published  that  contains  so  much  useful  and  valuable  information  in 
eo  cheap  and  convenient  a  form  ;  and  we  do  say  that  no  tarmer  or  gardener,  who 
is  worth  a  "  bit,"  should  be  without  one.  There  is  no  pursuit  in  which  more  real 
rational  enjoyment  and  comfort  will  follow  to  an  industrious  man  than  Horticul 
tural  employments. 

BOOK  OF  POLITENESS. 

The  Gentleman  and  Lady's  Book  of  Politeness  and  Propriety  of  Deport 
ment.  Dedicated  to  the  Youth  of  both  sexes.  By  Madame  Celnart 
Translated  from  the  Sixth  Paris  edition,  enlarged  and  improved.  Fifth 
American  edition. 


THE    BEAUTIES   OF   HISTORY. 

Or,  Examples  of  the  Opposite  Effects  of  Virtue  and  Vice,  for  the  use  of 
Families.     1  vol.  12mo.,  with  plates. 

"After  a  careful  examination  of  this  book,  we  can  conscientiously  recommend 
it  to  parents  and  teachers  as  a  most  meritorious  performance.  There  are  here 
collected,  within  a  narrow  compass,  the  most  striking  examples  of  individual  virtue 
and  vice  which  are  spread  forth  on  the  pages  of  history,  or  are  recorded  in  per 
sonal  biography.  The  noblest  precepts  are  recommended  for  the  guidance  of 
youth  ;  and  in  the  most  impressive  manner  is  he  taught  to  conquer  the  degrading 
impulses  which  lower  the  standard  of  the  human  character.  We  have  not  lately 
met  with  a  volume  which,  in  design  and  execution,  seemed  so  acceptable  as  this 
The  book,  moreover,  is  handsomely  got  up,  and  illustrated  with  wood  engray- 
ings." 


THE   GLEHBYSAN'S   ASSISTANT. 

Or,  Guide  in  Reading  the  Liturgy;  containing  Directions  for  Reading  Cor 
rectly  with  the  Pronunciation.    By  Rev.  W.  H.  Odenheimer,  of  Phila 
delphia.     1  vol.  12mo.;  cloth. 
ti 


LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Ill  onq  vol.  12mo.,  with  100  Illustrations. 

««  Life  of  Rear  Admiral  John  Paul  Jones,"  &c.  &c.,  by  James  Hamilton.  The 
work  is  compiled  from  his  original  journals  and  correspondence;  and  include*  an 
account  of  his  services  in  the  American  Revolution,  and  in  the  war  between  the 
Russians  and  Turks  in  the  Black  Sea.  There  is  scarcely  any  Naval  Hero  of  any 
age  who  combined  in  his  character  so  much  of  the  adventurous,  skilful  and  daring, 
as  Paul  Jones.  The  incidents  of  his  life  are  almost  as  startling  and  absorbing  as 
those  of  romance.  His  achievements  during  the  American  Revolution — the  fight 
between  the  Bon  Hortime  Richard  and  Serapis,  the  most  desperate  naval  action  on 
record,  and  the  alarm  into  which,  with  so  small  a  force,  he  threw  the  coasts  of 
England  and  Scotland,  are  matters  comparatively  well  known  to  Americans;  but 
the  incidents  of  his  subsequent  career  have  been  veiled  in  obscurity,  which  is  dis 
sipated  by  this  Biography.  A  book  like  this,  narrating  the  actions  of  such  a  man, 
ought  to  meet  with  an  extensive  sale,  and  become  as  popular  as  Robinson  Crusqe 
in  fiction,  or  Weems'  Life  of  Marion  and  Washington,  and  simila'r  books  in  fact. 
It  contains  400  pages — has  a  handsome  portrait  and  medallion  likeness  of  Jones, 
and  is  illustrated  with  numerous  original  wood  engravings  of  naval  scenes  and 
distinguished  men  with  whom  he  was  familiar. 

L.  G.  Curtis,  Esq.,  editor  of  The  Commercial,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  speaking  of  this 
work,  &c.,  observes: — "  Life  of  Rear  Admiral  Paul  Jones,  illustrated  with  nume 
rous  engravings  from  original  drawings."  This  book  we  prize  above  any  in  our 
possession.  John  Paul  Jones  was  truly  an  extraordinary  man.  He  had  the  honor 
to  hoist  with  his  own  hands  the  flag  of  freedom,  the  first  time  it  was  displayed  in 
the  Delaware,  and  in  after  life  declared  that  he  attended  it  with  veneration  ever 
after.  To  Paul  Jones  the  honor  of  raising  up  an  American  navy  belongs.  He  was 
the  first  commander  in  the  world  who  made  the  proud  flag  of  England  "come 
down."  His  life,  as  printed  by  Messrs.  Grigg,  Elliot  &  Co.,  should  be  in  the 
hands  of  every  intelligent  American. 


WALKER'S  SCHOOL  AND  FAMILY  DICTIONARY, 

NEW     EDITION. 

FROM   NEW  STEREOTYPE  PLATES,  GREATLY  IMPROVED,  AND  PRINTEE 
ON    WHITE    PAPER. 

A  Critical  Pronouncing  Dictionary  and  Expositor  of  the  English  language, 
in  which  the  meaning  of  every  word  is  explained,  and  the  sound  of 
every  syllable  distinctly  shown.  To  which  are  prefixed  an  Abstract\)f 
English  Pronunciation,  and  Directions  to  Foreigners  for  Acquiring  a 
Knowledge  of  the  Use  of  this  Dictionary.  By  John  Walker,  author  of 
"  Elements  of  Elocution,"  "  Rhyming  Dictionary,"  &c.  &c.  Abridged 
for  the  use  of  Schools,  by  an  American  Citizen. 

P.  S.  This  is  a  new  edition,  on  fine  paper,  and  improved  in  printing  and  bind 
ing.  Parents  and  Teachers  will  please  examine  and  order  Grigg,  Elliot  &  Co.'s 
Improved  Edition. 

An  eminent  writer,  and  a  good  judge  of  the  value  of  Dictionaries,  observes  as 
follows: — 

We  have  received  from  the  publishers,  Messrs.  Grigg,  Elliot  &  Co.,  No.  14 
North  Fourth  Street,  a  copy  of  their  new  and  handsome  edition  of  Walker's  Criti 
cal  Pronouncing  Dictionary  for  Schools.  The  present  edition  is  decidedly  the 
best  and  most  convenient  we  have  ever  seen,  both  in  regard  to  the  size  of  the 
type  on  which  it  is  printed,  and  the  style  and  form  in  which  it  is  issued.  It  has  been 
"got  up"  in  a  handsome  nnd  substantial  manner,  expressly  for  schools — has  been 
greatly  improved  and  made  better  in  every  respect  for  teachers  and  scholars.  All 
teachers  who  have  any  regard  for  their  eyes  and  the  eyes  of  their  scholars,  would 
find  it  to  their  advantage  to  use  this  edition,  printed  as  it  is  from  new  stereotype 
plates  and  on  clean  white  paper.  The  edition  is  for  sale  by  booksellers  and  cou> 
try  merchants  generally  throughout  the  United  State*. 


BOLLES'  PHONOGRAPHIC  PRONOUNCING  DICTIONARY, 

IN    ONE    VOL.    ROYAL    8VO 

This  valuable  work  has  met  with  the  most  favorable  reception  from  the  Ameri 
can  public.  It  contains  more  words  than  the  8vo.  edition  of  Webster,  and  has  the 
pronunciation  attached  according  to  the  best  authorities,  which  is  a  very  import 
ant  addition,  and  renders  the  work  much  more  desirable  for  general  use  and 
reference  than  of  any  of  the  large  dictionaries  now  in  use.  No  man  of  business 
or  family  should  be  without  this  valuable  Dictionary. 

The  same  work  abridged,  in  1  vol.  12mo.,  we  have  just  published  also,  which 
will  be  found  an  invaluable  class  book  for  academies,  seminaries,  and  higher  order 
of  schools,  as  well  as  an  important  companion  to  the  education  of  every  young 
person. 

BIGLAND'S  NATURAL  HISTORY 

Of  Animals,  Birds,  Fishes,  Reptiles  and  Insects,  illustrated  with  nume 
rous  and  beautiful  engravings.     By  John  Bigland,  author  of  a  "  View 
of  the  World,"  "  Letters  on  Universal  History,7'  &c.     Complete  in  1 
vol.  12mo. 
&5~  This  work  is  particularly  adapted   for  the  use   of  Schools  and  Families, 

forming  the  most  elegantly  written   and  complete  work  on  the  subject  of  Natural 

History  ever  published,  and  is  worthy  of  the  special  attention  of  the  teachers  of 

all  our  schools  and  academies. 


BIGLAND'S  NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  ANIMALS. 
Illustrated  with  12  beautifully  colored  engravings. 

BIGLAND'S  HISTORY  OF  BIRDS. 
Illustrated  with  12  beautifully  colored  engravings. 


By  Shoberl,  with  12  colored  plates. 

These  works  are  got  up  in  a  very  superior  style,  and  well  deserve  an  introduc 
tion  to  the  shelves  of  every  family  library,  as  they  are  very  interesting,  and  par 
ticularly  adapted  to  the  juvenile  class  of  readers. 


GRIMSHAW'S  POPULAR  HISTORIES. 

FOR  SCHOOLS  AND  FAMILY  LIBRARIES. 


GRIMSHAW'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
Recently  brought  up  by  the  author  to  the  present  time. 
Also.  Questions  adapted  to  the  above  History;  and  a  Key,  adapted  to  the 
Questions,  for  the  use  of  Teachers  arid  Families. 

GRIMSHAW'S  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 
Recently  brought  up  by  the  author  to  the  present  time. 
Also,  Questions  adapted  to  the  above  History;  and  a  Key,  adapted  to  the 
Questions,  for  the  use  of  Teachers  and  Families. 

GRIMSHAW'S  IMPROVED  EDITION  OF  GOLDSMITH'S  HISTORY 

OF  GREECE, 

With  a  Vocabulary  of  the  Proper  Names  contained  in  the  work,  and  the 
Prosodial  Accents,  in  conformity  with  the  Pronunciation  of  Lempriere. 
Also,  Questions  adapted  to  the  above  History;  and  a  Key,  adapted  to  the 
Questions,  for  the  use  of  Teachers  and  Families. 
8 


GRIMSHAW'S  IMPROVED  EDITION  OF  GOLDSMITH'S  HISTORY 

OF  ROME. 
Revised  and  Corrected;  and  a  Vocabulary  of  Proper  Names  appended, 

with  Prosodial  Marks  to  assist  in  their  Pronunciation. 
Also,  Questions  adapted  to  the  above  History;  and  a  Key,  adapted  to  the 

Questions,  for  the  use  of  Teachers  and  Families. 

GRIMSHAW'S  HISTORY  OF  FRANCE,  with  Key  and  Questions. 
GRIMSHAW'S  HISTORY  AND  LIFE  OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  editor  of  the  North  American  Review,  speaking  of  these  Histories,  ob 
serves,  that — 

Among  the  Elementary  Books  of  American  History,  we  do  not  remember  to 
have  seen  any  one  more  deserving  approbation  than  Mr.  Grimshaw's  History  of 
the  United  States.  It  is  a  small  volume,  and  a  great  deal  of  matter  is  brought 
into  a  narrow  space;  but  the  author  has  succeeded  so  well  in  the  construction  of 
his  periods,  and  the  arrangement  of  his  materials,  that  perspicuity  is  rarely  sacri 
ficed  to  brevity. 

The  chain  of  narrative  is  skilfully  preserved;  and  the  author's  reflections  are 
frequently  such  as  to  make  the  facts  more  impressive,  and  lead  the  youthful  mind 
to  observe  causes  and  consequences  which  might  otherwise  have  been  overlooked. 
As  a  school  book  it  may  justly  be  recommended. 

What  has  been  said  of  this  volume  will  apply  generally  to  his  other  historical 
works.  They  are  each  nearly  of  the  same  size  as  the  one  just  noticed,  and  de 
signed  for  the  same  object,  that  is,  the  use  of  classes  in  schools. 

The  History  of  England  is  an  original  composition;  but  the  Grecian  and  Roman 
Histories  are  Goldsmith's,  improved  by  Grimshaw,  in  which  he  has  corrected  the 
typographical  errors  with  which  the  later  editions  of  Goldsmith's  Abridgements 
so  much  abound ;  and  removed  any  grossness  in  language,  which,  in  some  few 
instances,  render  these  valuable  compends  less  useful  in  the  schools  to  which 
youth  of  both  sexes  resort.  He  has  also  added  a  Vocabulary  of  Proper  Names, 
accentuated,  in  order  to  show  their  right  pronunciation,  which  is  a  valuable  ap 
pendage  to  the  History. 

All  these  books  are  accompanied  with  very  full  and  well-digested  Tables  of 
Questions,  for  the  benefit  of  Pupils,  and  also  with  Keys  to  the  same,  for  the  con 
venience  of  Teachers. 

GRIMSHAW'S  LADIES'  LEXICON, 
And  Parlor  Companion;  containing  nearly  every  word  in  the  English 

language,  and  exhibiting  the  plurals  of  nouns  and  the  participles  of 

verbs;  being  also  particularly  adapted  to  the  use  of  Academies  and 

Schools.     By  William  Grimshaw,  Esq. 

In  the  Nashville  Republican,  we  observe  the  following  notice  of  this  very  useful 
book:— 

In  recommending  the  "  Ladies'  Lexicon,"  therefore,  to  all  our  readers,  male 
and  female,  who  have  ever  experienced  the  difficulties  which  it  is  so  admirably 
calculated  to  remedy,  we  but  do  an  ordinary  act  of  justice  to  the  author  and  pub 
lisher.  We  consider  the  "Ladies'  Lexicon,"  and  recommend  it  to  our  readers  as 
a  work  that  possesses  superior  claims  on  their  attention  and  patronage. 

THE  GENTLEMEN'S  LEXICON. 

Or,  Pocket  Dictionary:  containing  nearly  every  word  in  the  English  lan 
guage,  and  exhibiting  the  plurals  of  nouns  and  the  participles  of  verbs; 
being  also  particularly  adapted  to  the  use  of  Academies  and  Schools. 
By  William  Grimshaw. 

The  public  are  again  indebted  to  the  talents  of  Mr.  Grimshaw,  for  the  very  use 
ful  books  which  he  has  called  "  The  Ladies'  and  Gentlemen's  Lexicons."  The 
peculiarity  and  advantages  of  these  works  may  be  collected  from  the  following 
portion  of  the  preface : — 

0 


They  differ  from  all  preceding  works  of  the  kind  in  this,  that  they  exhibit  the 
plurals  of  all  nouns  which  are  not  formed  by  the  mere  addition  of  the  letter  s, 
and  also  the  participles  of  every  verb  now  generally  used,  and  unless  accompa 
nied  by  a  particular  caution.  No  word  has  been  admitted  which  is  not  now  of 
polite  or  popular  use;  and  no  word  has  been  excluded  which  is  required  either  in 
epistolatory  composition  or  conversation. 

In  giving  the  above  extracts  we  take  occasion  to  say,  that  teachers  will  find  the 
*' Ladies'  and  Gentlemen's  Lexicons"  works  admirably  adapted  to  take  the  place, 
with  advantage  to  their  pupils,  of  the  different  works  recently  put  into  their  hands 
under  the  name  of  Expositors,  &c. 

%£r  The  above  work  has  been  introduced  as  a  Classbook  into  many  of  our 
academies  and  schools,  with  great  approbation. 


Ruschenberger's  First  Books  of  Natural  History, 

FOR    SCHOOLS,    ACADEMIES,    COLLEGES,    AND    FAMILIES. 

Dh.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  ANATOMY  AND 

PHYSIOLOGY. 
For  the  use  of  Schools  and  Families;  with  45  illustrations.     1  vol.  12mo. 

This  is  a  most  valuable  work,  by  Dr.  Ruschenberger :  and  most  admirably  are 
«£e  plates,  representing  all  the  different  parts  of  the  body,  done.  It  is  cheap; 
and  every  parent  should  place  one  in  the  hands  of  his  children. — JV.  Y.  Herald. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  MAMMALOGY. 
The  Natural  History  of  Quadrupeds;  for  beginners;  75  illustrations.     1 

vol.  12mo. 

This  number  treats  of  all  animals  that  in  infancy  feed  on  the  milk  of  their 
mothers,  from  the  human  being  down  to  the  musquito-catching  bat.  Like  the 
"  First  Book,"  it  is  divided  into  Questions  and  Answers,  and  a  Glossary;  and  is 
illustrated  by  six  plates.  It  is  very  cheap;  and  contains  an  abundance  of  useful 
information.  There  are  thousands  of  persons  in  this  country,  and  millions  in 
Europe,  who  do  not  know  that  whales  give  milk. — New  York  Era. 

We  do  not  know  a  more  useful  set  than  this  promises  to  be — and  IS. — New  York 
Aurora. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  ORNITHOLOGY. 
The  Natural  History  of  Birds;  for  beginners;  81  illustrations.    1  vol.  12mo. 

New  York,  Feb.  9,  1846. 

Sir — I  have  received  your  note  of  the  3d  instant,  together  with  the  "  Element* 
of  Ornithology,"  prepared  for  the  use  of  Schools  and  Colleges,  by  W.  S.  VV. 
Ruschenberger,  M.  D.,  &c.,  and  have  read  the  work,  in  compliance  with  the  re 
quest  of  the  American  Institute,  that  I  should  examine  and  report  upon  it. 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  highly  recommending  it.  To  say  the  truth,  although  I 
am  somewhat  blanched  by  the  hand  of  time,  and  have  many  years  been  a  student 
of  Ornithology,  I  consider  the  present  the  very  best  introduction  to  that  science 
that  I  have  ever  seen;  and  I  might  add  as  full  praise  to  the  other  works  of  the 
series  of  Rufichenberger's  text- books  of  Natural  History,  as  far  as  I  am  acquainted 
with  the  subjects  they  relate  to. 

Dr.  Ruschenberger  has,  in  giving  this  series  to  the  public,  rendered  a  benefit  to 
all  seekers  after  science,  as  both  old  and  young  may  profit  by  the  well-arranged 
and  valuable  information  these  volumes  contain.  Your  obedient  servant, 

To  H.  Meigs,  Esq.,  JOH'N  J.  AUDUBON. 

Recording  Secretary  of  the  American  Institute,  New  York  City. 

We  wish  we  could  induce  our  teachers  generally  to  examine  this,  as  well  as  the 
earlier  works  of  Dr.  Ruschenberger;  they  are  admirably  arranged,  and  just  the 
very  books  needed  for  schools.  The  work  before  us,  on  the  Natural  History  of 
Birds,  is  an  admirable  one;  and  no  teacher  should  neglect  to  introduce  the  series, 

Cincinnati  Gazette. 
10  * 


We  have  much  pleasure  in  commending  this  series  of  works — the  third  ol 
which,  now  before  us,  is  on  Ornithology.  It  will  be  found  useful  in  the  school 
room,  or  the  private  study. — U.  S.  Gazette. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS   OF  HERPETOLOGY   AND 
ICHTHYOLOGY. 

The  Natural  History  of  Reptiles  and  Fishes;  for  beginners;  66  illustra 
tions.  1  vol.  12mo.  * 

Ruschenberger's  Series  of  Books  on  Natural  History  are  among  the  most  valu 
able  and  useful  works,  for  the  use  of  Schools,  that  have  ever  been  published.  A 
knowledge  of  Natural  History  is  not  only  valuable,  but  deeply  interesting  ;  and  no 
one's  education  can,  with  such  facilities  as  these  works  afford,  be  considered  com 
plete  without  it. — National  Intelligencer. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  CONCHOLOGY. 

The  Natural  History  of  Shells  and  Mollusca;  for  beginners;  119  illustra 
tions.  1  vpl.  12mo. 

"  We  have  no  hand-books  equal  to  these ;  and  we  think  Dr.  R.  has  conferred 
an  obligation  upon  teachers  and  learners  by  producing  them  in  an  English  dress, 
with  all  the  advantages  of  well-engraved  illustrations.  The  whole  set  of  this 
work,  which  is  furnished  at  a  low  price,  will  prove  an  invaluable  acquisition  to  the 
school  library." 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 
The  Natural  History  of  Insects;  for  beginners;  91  illustrations.  1  vol.  12mo. 

The  subjects  are  well  treated ;  and  from  the  exceeding  cheapness  and  admirable 
arrangement  of  these  elementary  works,  they  are  well  fitted  for  general  use  in 
Public  Schools,  Academies,  and  in  every  private  library. — New  York  American. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  BOTANY. 

The  Natural  History  of  Plants;  for  beginners;  194  illustrations.  1  vol. 
12mo. 

We  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  this  is  the  best  work  of  the  kind  and  dimension* 
that  has  ever  fallen  under  our  notice.  We  hope  all  will  embrace  the  first  oppor 
tunity  of  procuring  a  copy,  as  we  are  sure  they  will  prize  it  highly. — Botanic 
Recorder. 

We  regard  this  series  as  eminently  useful,  supplying  adequately  the  instruction 
in  Natural  History  necessary  to  a  proper  school  education. — North  American. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  GEOLOGY. 

The  Natural  History  of  the  Earth's  Structure;  for  beginners;  illustrated 
with  300  beautiful  Wood-cuts,  designed  to  assist  the  learner  in  the 
course  of  his  studies.  1  vol.  12mo. 

"  We  agree  with  a  competent  judge  in  the  opinion,  that  it  is  the  most  complete 
and  beautiful  Elementary  Treatise  on  the  subject  which  has  been  published  in  this 
country.  The  subject  of  Geology  is  now  attracting  a  great  deal,  and  will  continue 
to  excite  still  more  attention  in  the  United  States,  as  our  vast  mineral  resources 
are  becoming  more  fully  developed;  and  this  work  exactly  suits  the  wants  of  the 
public,  in  training  up  the  young  for  future  study  in  this  branch  of  knowledge." 

The  series  of  books  of  which  this  forms  a  part  has  been  highly  and  justly  com 
mended  by  the  ablest  judges,  as  furnishing  rare  facilities  for  the  acquisition  of 
branches  of  knowledge,  but  too  much  neglected  in  our  schools.  We  have  ex 
amined  the  volumes  with  much  cure,  and  we  find  them  well  deserving  all  tH" 
praise  bestowed  on  them. —  Godey'i  Lady's  Book. 


"  The  above  series,  taken  separately  or  collectively,  is  considered  one  of  the 
most  valuable  contributions  to  the  cause  of  education  which  has  ever  been  pub 
lished  in  this  country." 

This  interesting  Series  of  Books  has  already  met  with  the  most  flattering  recep 
tion  from  the  American  press.  They  have  been  introduced  into  the  public  schools 
of  Pennsylvania,  Massachusetts,  Ohio,  Maine,  New  York,  Tennessee,  Alabama, 
Georgia,  Illinois,  Indiana,  the  Carolinas,  &c.,  and  many  of  the  first  class  Semi 
naries  of  Learning  in  the  United  States.  The  moderate  price  of  this  series  is  a 
grent  recommendation,  being  half  the  price  of  the  common  school  books  in  use, 
on  the  same  subject. 

Yale  College,  Dec.  19,  1845. 

I  think  this  an  excellent  work — condensed,  lucid,  exact,  and  comprehensive — a 
safe  guide  for  the  pupil,  and  a  useful  review'for  the  teacher.  The  illustrations 
are  numerous  and  exact.  B.  SILLIMAN. 

Extract  of  a  Report  to  the  American  Institute. 

Your  committee  with  much  pleasure  recommend  this  highly  valuable  book  to 
the  attention  of  those  who  conduct  our  Schools,  Academies,  and  Colleges,  as  a 
work  excellently  calculated  to  give  the  first  outlines  of  the  very  important  study 
of  Geology  to  students.  Nor  do  we  hesitate  to  say,  that  all  men,  except  learned 
Geologists  alone,  will  feel,  after  its  perusal,  that  they  have  received  a  great  re 
ward  for  a  very  small  expense  of  time  and  money.  JAMES  J.  MAPES. 


GRIGG    &    ELLIOT'S    NEW    SERIES    OP 

COMMON    SCHOOL    READERS, 

Numbers  First,  Second,  Third  and  Fourth. 

These  books  are  particularly  adapted  for  an  introduction  into  the  Schools  gene 
rally  in  the  South  and  West ;  and  Teachers  who  feel  a  deep  interest  in  promoting 
the  welfare  of  their  pupils,  will,  no  doubt,  after  a  careful  examination,  give  them 
the  preference  over  all  other  Readers  now  in  use. 

Parents  and  Teachers  will  please  read  the  following  notice  of  this  invaluable 
series  of  Elementary  School  Books. 

We  called  attention  to  the  above-named  series  of  Common  School  books  several  weeks 
since,  when  publishing  an  advertisement  for  the  sale  of  them  by  some  of  our  merchants. 
Since  that  time  we  have  had  opportunity  to  give  them  a  thorough  examination,  and  we 
feel  it  due  to  the  community  in  which  we  live,  and  the  proprietors  of  those  interesting  pub 
lications,  to  notice  them  more  particularly.  They  certainly  contribute  a  valuable  addition 
to  our  stock  of  elementary  literature;  in  their  plan  and  details  presenting  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  necessities  that  demanded  their  production,  and  developing,  in  their 
prosecution,  a  wisdom  and  zeal  in  adapting  the  material  at  hand  to  the  attainment  of  the 
object  in  view,  every  way  worthy  of  commendation  and  confidence. 

The  First  Class  reader  is  exactly  such  a  book  as  would  interest  and  impress  the  minds 
and  hearts  of  little  boys  and  girls.  Composed  of  short  and  easy  words,  embodying  plea 
sant  and  profitable  instruction,  it  is  just  the  thing  for  infant  learners,  who  find  in  it  such 
words  as  they  can  readily  pronounce,  and  such  ideas  as  they  ca.n  easily  comprehend.  In 
the  Second  and  Third  Class  Readers  the  style  increases  in  the  intricacy  of  diction  and  the 
elevation  of  sentiment,  in  beautiful  consistency  with  the  progress  of  attentive  and  studious 
pupils,  in  the  more  advanced  stages  of  primary  school  education.  The  Fourth  Class 
Reader  is  an  invaluable  compendium  of  deeply  interesting  and  instructive  facts,  argu 
ments  and  inferences,  drawn  from  that  unfailing  repository  of  truth,  the  history  of  the  men 
and  manners  of  ,by-gone  times.  It  is  a  reprint  of  the  ''Beauties  of  History,"  consisting  of 
anecdotes  of  men  and  women  made  illustrious  by  the  splendor  of  their  talents  and  virtues, 
or  rendered  eternally  infamous  by  the  vileness  of  their  characters  and  crimes.  It  is,  there 
fore,  a  fit  companion  for  those  who  are  completing  their  term  of  study,  preparatory  to 
entering  the  great  arena  of  life ;  inviting  and  encouraging  them  by  the  bright  example  of 
the  good,  to  walk  in  wisdom's  narrow  path,  and  warning  them,  by  the  wretchedness  and 
ruin  of  the  vicious,  from  entering  the  broad  road  of  sin  and  death. 

After  the  table  of  contents  of  the  Second  Reader,  is  a  chapter  giving  directions  for  the 
attainment  of  a  correct  and  elegant  style  of  reading,  the  great  importance  of  which  all 
know  the  value  of,  but  few  attain.  For  the  truth  of  these  remarks,  we  refer  to  the  books 
themselves. 

*»*  Public,  private  and  social  libraries,  and  all  who  purchase  to  sell  again,  supplied  on 
the  most  reasonable  terms  with  every  article  in  the  Book  and  Stationery  line;  including 
new  novels,  and  all  new  works  in  every  department  of  literature  and  science. 

[£7»  Particular  attention  will  also  be  paid  to  all  orders,  through  country  merchants,  or 
by  mail,  for  Law,  Medical  and  Miscellaneous  Books,  for  public  and  private  libraries,  and 
BO  effort  will  be  spared  to  complete  ail  such  orders  on  th«  most  reasonable  terms. 


